GUWAHATI: The Assam Forest Department has designated the hills surrounding the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) as a “leopard-bearing area” due to frequent leopard sightings.
According to the department, the connecting road between Kahilipara and GMCH along with the surrounding hilly areas is identified as a potential leopard habitat.
The move has instilled fear among residents of the area.
The authorities have put up warning signs near GMCH, GMCH Guest House, Kamalnagar roadside, and Rajib Nagar for public awareness.
The decision to designate the hills surrounding the GMCH as a leopard-habitat area was taken after repeated instances of the sightings of leopards in and around the area, an official of the Forest Department said.
Guwahati has inter-connected hillocks, which are the natural habitat of leopards and provide natural passage to the spotted cats.
A good population of spotted cats is found in the surrounding hills from Garbhanga Kamakhya, Gaushala, Jalukbari, Maligaon, Kahilipar, and Narakasur hills.
According to experts, shrinking natural habitats and scarcity of prey are forcing leopards to stray into Guwahati from nearby forests. However, with the growing human population in the city, the leopard population seemed to be declining.
Notably, over 10-12 leopards have been tranquilized and captured from different parts of Guwahati in the last couple of years.
