The number of panthers roaming in Mumbai's wild has fallen from 33 to 25, says the preliminary results of animal census held last month in SGNP, Borivili and the adjoining Tungareshwar region.

A census conducted in 2004 indicated that there were 33 panthers in the forest.

Last June, incidents of panthers straying in to residential colonies on the periphery of the park had increased. This spurred the then forest minister , Surupsingh Naik to order that all panthers straying out of the park be trapped.

As a result, 28 big cats were trapped, a majority from Powai and Aarey areas.

Due to public outrage, the forest department had no option but to keep the trapped panthers caged. However, some of them have been released after a few months.

"Of the 28 cats trapped, since the last census (held in April), 10 were released in the park. A couple of them in Junnar, Pune. About 8 panthers trapped feom the SGNP are still in cages. These cats are still in injured condition and physically weak" says the forest official of the park.

Some of them have a record of attacking humans.

But envoirnmentalists dont believe with the census results provided by the forest department.

Naturalist Sunjoy Monga says "These figures are only an approximate idea that could be almost 35 to 40 % off the mark. And unless the census are conducted using the latest technology available today and on continuous basis, we will only get wrong or skewed information."

Census is arried out in April or May when the sources of water in the jungle are reduced. The forest guards take impressions of pug marks on a plaster of paris block that is later analysed by experts.

The secretary of the 2005 census committee, Sarfaraz Khan, says that preliminary results taken show that SGNP, Thane and Alibaug districts have 52 panthers consisting of 17 males and 35 females.

The other members of this committee are P P Yaduvendu, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mumbai and Shirish Asthana, CCF, Thane.

The wildlife lovers have found just one tiger, a male, near Mahuli fort in the 338 sq km Tansa sanctuary. This sanctuary houses three lakes that supply drinking water to Mumbai.

About 7 years ago, the officials had records of 2 tigers and a young one in the same forest.