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4w ago

Mumbai Stray Dog Population Declines by 5,000 Over Decade, But Sterilization Efforts Lag

New data reveals uneven trends in dog density and calls for increased sterilizations to sustain population control.

After a decade, the survey focussed on 930 km area (out of a total 2,354km), where it found the stray density of 8.01 per km, which added up to a population of 90,757. This extrapolation was done using yearly sterilization data from 1994 and survival estimates (HT PHOTO)

Overview

  • The 2024 stray dog census found a 5,000-dog decrease in Mumbai's stray population over the past decade, dropping from 95,172 in 2014 to 90,757 in 2024.
  • Dog density fell by 31.6% across 19 wards but rose by 19.9% in four wards: E-Byculla, N-Ghatkopar, R South-Kandivali, and T-Mulund.
  • Sterilization rates declined from 74.8% in 2014 to 62.9% in 2024, leaving 33,671 unsterilized dogs and raising concerns about population control.
  • The BMC and HSI recommend increasing annual sterilizations to 15,000-20,000 dogs, prioritizing female dogs and involving local dog feeders for better program outcomes.
  • The H/West ward (Bandra West) saw the largest reduction in stray dogs, with a 68.2% decrease, while slum areas recorded a 27.4% decline in dog density.