Leopards of Mount Abu

BIG CATS of Mount Abu.

leopard Mount Abu

Leopard photographed Dec 2017 behind Brothers' quarters.

Per kind favour Brother Agnello Benjamin 

They have spotted leopards at quite a few places in the Abode of the Gods in the last two months. There have been accounts of it being seen at Kumarwada, the Dhondia area where a few strays have been picked up. The leopard a fortnight ago attacked a young calf in the Salgoan area, but it could survive. The latest leopard recorded and seen was at the back of the Brother’s quarters at St. Mary’s School. 

The leopard is one of the smallest of the big cats and known for its ability to adapt to a variety of habitats. A nocturnal animal, the leopard hunts by night. It feeds on the smaller species of herbivores found in its range, such as the langur, wild hare, and wild boar. It is famous for picking up pariah dogs around forest areas and our small town; I have also known them to prey on resident Abuites pet dogs who stray from their protected enclosures. An extremely agile creature spends most of its resting time in natural caves and on top of trees. They can move quite a few kilometres every night in search of prey.

Leopards usually mate throughout the year, drawing up a litter of two to three cubs after a gestation period of 90 to 105 days. The female is very protective of her cubs and keeps them well hidden from prying predators. They stay with the mother for another two years, learning to hunt by following and watching the mother.

The biggest threats facing the common leopard in India are poaching for illegal trade in body parts and loss of habitat. I fear for the leopards of Abu, as the previous year two-foot traps had been retrieved from the jungle behind the school near the Golden Horn.

Foothold traps

Nakki Lake the Life Line of Mount Abu

Implement strict rules to observe while visiting Nakki Lake. Mt Abu.

Nakki Lake from Toad rock 

To save Nakki Lake, the following 20 suggestions should be implemented.

1. Water should be the only priority for any action

2, There should be a total ban on constriction in a vicinity of one kilometre from the centre of the lake forever except for repair.

3. No Planting of trees by anyone except the forest department or any other decoration done around the lake, as this always gives temptation to forget about the water and think about the rest of the things.

4. Only fog lights should be used so as not to disturb the beauty of the lake and the starry sky above; if lights are needed, they should be only the footlight securely placed to light the road a little, thus not disturbing the nocturnal animal movement like that of bats, Bear, leopard, etc. Flying foxes and bats skimming the lake for water.

Flying foxes and bats skimming the lake for water.

5. Except for soft pleasant music for a fixed duration in the evenings, there should be no noise in and around the lake

6. All vehicles except those for emergency service be allowed ever in and around the lake.

7 No one should carry eatables in the lake while boating. I’ve observed tourists drinking beer while boating.

8. Anyone littering the lake or its surrounding should be  penealized and heavily fined.

9. Immersion of many objects, including Idols be prohibited

10. An expert organization on lake cleansing should keep our lake clean and free of any rubbish that can contaminate our precious water.

11. Penalise those who bathe and wash clothes in the lake 

11. There should be round-the-clock cleaning of the lake as it’s done on all hill stations.

13. Special security guards from the municipality should be employed to watch and protect the lake from tourists throwing garbage and bottles into the lake.

14. All unnecessary structures be demolished around the lake.

15. No cattle be allowed in and around the lake.

16. Life Jackets should be mandatory on all boats plying in the lake as 90% of tourists do not know swimming..

17. Poaching of fish should be stopped. Broken fishing lines are a danger to the aquatic life in the lake.

18. No one should dispose of paint thinners or chemical products around the lake.

19. Do not feed the ducks, geese, grass carp or other wildlife.

20. OPEN ALL THE CLOGGED CATHMENTS IMMEDIATELY