Jaipur, March 17 The Rajasthan Forest Department has decided to attach radio collars to leopards in the Jhalana Leopard Reserve to monitor their movement, following repeated incidents of them straying into nearby residential areas, officials said.
Chief Wildlife Warden K C Arun Prasad said the move would enable real-time tracking of leopards and help in timely rescue and control measures during emergencies.
"Jhalana currently has over 30 leopards and is surrounded by habitation, leading to frequent movement of animals into urban areas," he said.
He said around a dozen such incidents were reported in the past year, causing panic among residents.
Officials said radio collars equipped with GPS trackers will help gather data on the movement patterns and habitat range of the animals. The collars, sourced from a Bengaluru-based company, are likely to be fitted within a week.
The exercise will initially be carried out on a trial basis and focused on leopards that frequently enter urban areas. If successful, it will be extended to other sensitive forest regions in the state, officials added.