With the opening of the Amagarh Leopard Reserve, Jaipur has become the only city in India with two leopard safaris. Nestled in the Aravali mountain range, Amagarh is a reserved forest section that sprawls over 1,524 hectares and houses 15 leopards. By Karan Kaushik
Amagarh Leopard Safari: All you need to know
Pink City Jaipur has surprisingly emerged as a major wildlife haven over the last few years. After a lion safari at Nahargarh Biological Park and a leopard safari at Jhalana, the city has got a new wildlife hotspot in Amagarh Leopard Safari.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Amagarh Leopard Reserve on World Biodiversity Day. Safaris at the reserve started on Monday, May 23rd. Gehlot said that Rajasthan has gained immense popularity as a sought-after wildlife destination. With the opening of the Amagarh Leopard Safari, Rajasthan has got its third leopard safari after Jhalana and Jawai.
आमागढ़ लेपर्ड रिजर्व, जयपुर का उद्घाटन कार्यक्रम https://t.co/DF4URFopSa
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) May 22, 2022
Online booking for the Amagarh Leopard Safari has begun. There will be two shifts. The morning safari will be conducted from 5:30 am to 8 am, while the timings for the evening safari will be from 4:45 pm to 7:15 pm.
The forests of Jhalana are spread over 1,978 hectares, which wasn’t enough to house the dense population of leopards in the city. Sub-adult leopards have been moving towards the Amagarh and Lalberi forest blocks.
Jaipur has seen impressive growth in its leopard count over the last three years. Between January 2019 and August 2021, 35 leopard cubs were born. Environmentalists in the state are of the view that Jaipur should be declared the leopard capital of the world.
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Apart from leopards, other commonly spotted animals at Amagarh Leopard Reserve include hyenas, jackals, wild cats, foxes, civet cats, nilgai, sambhar, and rabbits, to name a few. Visitors can also explore the many forts and temples that dot the Amagarh forest block. Popular spots include the Galta Temple, Amagarh Fort, Raghunath Fort, and Ambamata Temple.
The new leopard reserve is a result of the sincere efforts made by the state’s forest department under Project Leopard. Launched in 2017, the project aims to conserve leopards by improving their prey base, mitigating human-animal conflict, and putting control on poaching.
The Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) was recognised as an endangered animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The big cat is also listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The Indian Leopard is one of the five big cats found in India. The other four are Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard.
Related: Explore The ‘Wild’ Side Of Rajasthan At These Lesser-known Sanctuaries And Parks
Karan Kaushik
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