Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with Humane Society India (HSI), has recorded a decrease in Mumbai’s stray dog population over the past decade. The latest survey estimates 90,757 stray dogs citywide, down from 95,172 in 2014, marking a reduction of 4,415.
This survey was conducted to assess the population of stray dogs in Mumbai and evaluate the impact of animal birth control measures, findings of which were released on Thursday.
Dog density down in most areas
The survey covered 930 km of streets and 1,622 slum areas. Citywide dog density has dropped to 8.01 dogs per km from 10.54 dogs per km. In slums, the density is now 224 dogs per sq km, reflecting a 21.8% drop on streets and 27.4% in slums.
While 19 municipal wards recorded a 31.6% fall in dog density, four wards, namely, E (Byculla), N (Ghatkopar), R-South (Kandivali), and T (Mulund), saw a 19.9% increase. Meanwhile, in D-Pedder Road and Malabar Hill, figures remained unchanged.
Current sterilisation and reproduction rates
Sterilisation efforts have played a major role in reducing the stray dog population. From 1994 to December 2023, BMC sterilised 4,03,374 dogs. Between 2014 and 2023, 1,48,084 dogs were sterilised, with the highest in 2017 (24,290) and the lowest in 2015 (6,414). The average annual sterilisation rate stands at 14,808 dogs.
The current overall sterilisation rate is 62.9%, with female dogs slightly lower at 61.7%. Lactating female numbers dropped to 7.1%, but pup numbers have risen to 4.3%, possibly due to increased feeding and migration in border areas.
As per reports, this data will help BMC tailor animal birth control strategies and better allocate resources for dog welfare and public safety. The full report was unveiled by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Chanda Jadhav at BMC headquarters on Thursday.
