Bera’s free-roaming leopards walk on thin ice as tourism grows

Bera in the Pali district of Rajasthan is often nicknamed ‘Leopard Country’. Widely regarded as being home to one of the highest densities of leopards found anywhere, the otherwise shy feline is often spotted roaming and resting in crevices along the hillocks of the Aravali range here. If that is not interesting enough, the fact that the locals here — mostly of the Rabari community who herd animals like sheep and goats — have co-existed peacefully with the leopards for centuries now, is fascinating.

Bera’s leopards and the local community share a special bond, in which each respects others’ boundaries. The Rabari community also views the leopard with a connection to Lord Shiva, who is depicted as sitting on a leopard skin. There have been instances when the big cat has taken a few goats and sheep from the herdsmen but no human being has been harmed. At a time when human-leopard conflict has become more and more common in other places, such belief is a rarity.

With no scarcity of food—it also preys on other wild animals like hyenas, blue bulls, and even the peacock found in this landscape—and no perceived fear from the local populace, leopards are therefore nonchalant to human presence — of course, at a distance.

Over the last four-five years, hotels, resorts, and homestays have started coming up all across this area to cater to a growing number of tourists. Conservationists are however concerned at Bera’s growing popularity, mainly because of its unhinged, no-regulation manner.

There is no poaching—because of the religious and the sentimental value of the locals. Plus, now hotel and resort owners are also on vigil because this is what the tourists come to see. But some other practices by hotel owners restrict the movement of the leopards. The forest department has no control over this.

For example, giving in to the demand of “sighting a leopard”, some hotel owners indulge in the practice of placing animal carcass or even live bait, like a goat, which lures the leopards to view of the public. The locals are duly compensated for the animal, making it a win-win situation.

Most of the resorts coming up here are farmers’ land bought on lease and are a part of the landscape where the leopards roamed free.

Picture Credit:Ramesh Kumar Daiya