Leopards are not mere wanderers anymore: When life finds a way…Sukhna’s Rennaisance​ | Chandigarh News

Chandigarh: Nestled in the fragile Shivalik Hills near Chandigarh’s iconic Sukhna Lake, Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary has emerged as a remarkable success story of ecological revival.Spanning approximately 26 square kilometres (2,600 hectares), this protected area was born out of the need to combat the severe siltation threatening the lake, evolving into a vibrant sanctuary rich in flora, fauna, and natural beauty.The recent confirmation of leopards thriving in the sanctuary marks a striking milestone in one of India’s most remarkable ecological comebacks. Camera traps deployed during a collaborative wildlife survey have captured clear images of these elusive predators, underscoring how decades of dedicated restoration have transformed a onceeroded landscape into a self-sustaining forest capable of supporting large carnivores.

Although occasional leopard sightings have been reported in the past, this time, things are different. “There is definitive proof that leopards have established the sanctuary as their permanent home now. Earlier, leopards would occasionally cross over from neighbouring forested areas for some time and then return to their permanent territory,” said UT chief conservator of forest (CCF) Saurabh Kumar.Recent motion-triggered camera traps in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary captured clear images of at least two leopards in the Kansal range of the 26-square kilometer sanctuary, with officials postulating the presence of at least one female as well. Follow-up field inspections in Dec 2025 revealed fresh pug marks and widespread activity at multiple sites, confirming active movement across the protected area. For forest officials, these sightings go beyond a simple wildlife encounter.

“The establishment of leopards at the top of the food chain is a resounding validation that the ecosystem has matured into a near-natural, selfsustaining forest capable of supporting apex predators,” said Kumar, highlighting the triumph of long-term conservation efforts.Sukhna Lake itself was created in 1958 by damming in Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream, as part of Le Corbusier’s visionary plan for the city. Designed to collect run-off from the hills, the lake soon faced a grave threat: Rapid siltation from severe soil erosion on denuded Shivalik slopes.The lake, with an initial storage capacity of 1,074 million cubic meters and water spread of 1.52 to 2.28 square kilometres, drew from a 4,207-hectare catchment of hilly and agricultural land.However, the ecologically fragile Shivaliks, prone to erosion during monsoons, caused rapid siltation from denuded slopes, with rates exceeding 150 tons per hectare per year in some areas. By 1988, an estimated 66% of the lake’s original capacity had been lost to sediment buildup, endangering this man-made masterpiece.In the 1960s, the Punjab govt (later vesting with Chandigarh UT) acquired 25.42 square kilometres of the critical hilly catchment for soil and moisture conservation. “Due to heavy soil erosion in this area, all attempts, in the beginning, to take up plantation failed. Authorities are even said to have attempted seed sowing though helicopter, but failed,” said Kumar.Subhash Chawla, a former mayor who is an original inhabitant of a village that existed in the area even before Chandigarh was created, remembers a different world. “There were small hamlets in this area. There were many wells but no water, as all the wells were completely dried up. There was no water and fodder for domestic animals. The land was very stony and there was no farming in the area,” he recalled.

“When the erstwhile Punjab govt decided to acquire this area in 1962, there was no resentment from any quarter and people were rehabilitated in other areas,” he said.The UT forest department launched intensive measures, blending vegetative and engineering interventions: Extensive afforestation, slope stabilisation structures, and erosion control. These efforts dramatically reduced siltation to just 3-5 tons per hectare per year. Barren, gullyscarred landscapes — once devoid of vegetation, water, or fodder —were transformed through sustained tree planting and ameliorative forestry.Early challenges included the vast catchment size, initial high erosion, deep gullies, and landslides, delaying major impacts until after 1966.

“Yet, synergistic approaches — mechanical structures aiding plant establishment and vegetation reinforcing — proved effective. Hardy local species like Saccharum munja (kana) and Saccharum spontaneum (kahi) naturally colonised drainage lines, binding soil robustly,” said Kumar. The administration formally notified the area as Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on March 6, 1998.Meeting The ChallengeAlthough soil erosion control measures in the Sukhna Lake catchment area began in the early 1960s, their significant effects took time to materialise due to the catchment’s large size and the exceptionally high erosion rates. Efforts to protect the lake commenced with the phased acquisition of approximately 26 square kilometres of land in the catchment, followed by intensive tree plantation on the acquired area. However, large-scale plantation programmes could not be implemented until after 1966, by which point substantial silt had already accumulated in the lake.In the early 1970s, soil conservation initiatives were introduced on a relatively modest scale. Even carefully planned plantation efforts fell short of expectations, as the severely degraded and challenging terrain posed formidable obstacles to achieving reasonable survival rates for trees. The area featured an extensive network of gullies that deepened and widened, coupled with frequent landslides, all of which hindered successful afforestation.Authorities shifted to a more comprehensive strategy, combining intensive soil conservation measures with tree planting to better stabilise slopes and reduce silt inflow to the lake. In recent years, the lake’s status has evolved from a simple reservoir to a protected entity with legal rights. The Govt of India has designated Sukhna Lake as a protected National wetland. In 2020, the Punjab and Haryana High Court declared Sukhna Lake a “living entity” or “legal person.”