Mumbai: Dr Vinaya Jangle, senior veterinarian and wildlife expert, was honoured by the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini for her work in the field of wildlife conservation.
Jangle was felicitated at RMP’s Sanman Samvad series initiative which features interactive sessions with experts from different fields. The event was organised on January 28 at RMP’s Knowledge Excellence Centre in Uttan, Thane District. The event aimed to sensitise the audience about environmental conservation, especially as urbanisation and infrastructure expand, and urban humans come in greater contact with wildlife.
Jangle, while addressing the trainers, researchers, and staff members of RMP, narrated her experiences of treating and studying wild animals. During her presentation, she said that wild animals including leopards and Elephants are sensitive and intelligent. For peaceful coexistence with animals, humans need to be sensitive towards nature and protect habitats for wildlife.
“Humans are not the natural prey of leopards. Man-eating leopard is a rare phenomenon arising from specific circumstances such as illness. Otherwise, a leopard normally moving around at a place, a juvenile in search of new territory, or a leopard that has lost its way, will not harm us unless provoked,” she said, while sharing real-life stories of capturing and releasing into the wild, leopards that had strayed into human settlements in Dahanu, Bordi, Aarey Colony, National Dairy Development Board and Bhandup in Mumbai, Vasai Fort, Padgha in Bhiwandi and Ovala in Thane.
“Dogs don’t proliferate if one doesn’t litter around and instances of leopards entering human areas in search of prey reduce,” she said, adding that success stories in areas adjoining Borivali National Park was appreciated by international experts like Jane Goodall. She also provided tips on things to do if a leopard enters human settlement. She also shared her experiences of capturing and releasing wild elephants that have migrated into the Sindhudurg District from forests in the neighbouring states.
