Eight endangered mammals are found in the park, namely the leopard, rusty spotted cat, jungle cat, jackal, small Indian civet, common palm civet, chousingha and mouse deer. In all it is home to 59 species of mammals, 299 birds, 52 reptiles, 13 amphibians, 155 butterflies, 25 ants and many more yet to be documented species of insects.Â
The Borivli forest serves as the catchment area for the Tulsi and Vihar lakes. Apart from being a biodiversity vault, this is probably the Park's most important contribution to Mumbai. But the park is slowly being encroached on from all sides by slumlords, supported by some politicians who profit by exploiting both people seeking a roof over their heads and the park. Removing the slum dwellers is a socially traumatic process and the vacated lands are left totally deforested and in need of expensive watershed and afforestation work. Illegal quarries have also been operated for years in the northern sector of the park, again with patronage of politicians and underworld dons. The Yeoor forests in the eastern sector of the park are virtually over-run by criminals, developers and illegal builders from Thane and Mumbai city. Many politicians have built holiday homes in this area. Temples had also sprung up, some resembling two-star hotels, though these have now been demolished. Even after dealing with these daunting problems, the authorities must contend with bootlegging, cutting of firewood and illegal grazing. Poaching in the park is also a problem.
Organisations such as the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-I) and the Bombay Environment Action Group (BEAG) are working individually and collectively to counter these threats. In 1998, a move by the state government to set aside part of the park for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers was over-ruled by the Bombay High Court on the basis of a timely petition filed by BEAG. The court also delivered a judgement, which directed that:
1. All encroachments must be cleared and resettled by the state government.
2. All illegal quarries must be closed down.
3. Resettlement cannot take place from one area of the park to another area within the park.
Following the court order, some of the encroachments on the Borivli side of the park were demolished, generating much controversy. The main hurdle in the way of a satisfactory resolution of the Borivli problem now is that the state government appears to be taking no efforts to resettle the encroachers as directed by the High Court. This is hardly surprising as the powers-that-be, more often than not in league with slumlords, would like the stand-off to continue as long as possible, so that the denotification of parts of Borivli appears an increasingly attractive option. Of course, if this were ever to be done, the slums would be cleared anyway and replaced with luxury high-rise apartments.  Concerned readers can strengthen conservation action by writing in support of protection for Borivli National Park.
To financially or otherwise support the BEAG, write to:
Debi Goenka, Bombay Environmental Action Group, Kalbadevi Municipal School, Second floor, Room No. 54, (Behind Mumbadevi temple),
Mumbai - 400 002.
Email: debi@beag.net
Write a letter to endorse your support.
