Lack of civic sense among visitors to city’s landmark Jubilee Park has resulted in stray dogs thronging the 200-acre green lung in large numbers and getting uncomfortably close to the picnickers.

The park, a favourite destination for morning walkers and joggers round the year, also serves as a picnic hotspot from the middle of December till February.

Its location right in the heart of the city, green surroundings and adequate security measures make it an ideal family hangout. Of late, picnickers are complaining about stray dogs at the park either picking up a fight among themselves or coming alarmingly close for comfort.

“Today, I found a dog sniffing my five-year-old son who was playing with a balloon near the rose garden,” said Baradwari-based businessman Sudeep Bhowmick, a resident of Kasidih who had gone with his family for a picnic at the park.

Even regular morning walkers have noticed an increase in the number of stray dogs near the park and blame the picnic leftovers for it.

“Many elderly morning walkers are scared to see strays running and fighting among themselves. On Monday, a woman almost slipped on the grass as a pack of dogs started barking and chasing her. The number of stray dogs has increased alarmingly in the last one week due to the leftovers that are littered by picnickers,” Bistupur based trader Suresh Sonthalia, and a regular visitor, said.

According to veterinary experts, dogs do not get aggressive during winter, but are attracted by the smell of food.

“Stray dogs get aggressive only during the breeding season, which is around monsoon. However, they get attracted by the food left behind by picnickers. It is the responsibility of picnickers to throw waste in designated bins so that the dogs don’t loiter in the park in search of food. Civic authorities should also clean the bins regularly,” vet V.K. Singh said.

Jusco spokesperson Rajesh Rajan blamed lack of civic discipline among visitors.

“We have increased the number of bins in the park in view of the picnic season. There are nearly 10 bucket bins besides 25 trolley bins, but still visitors don’t use them. We have also started night cleaning and. There are around 50 safai workers compared with 35 a few days ago. The security staff have also been increased to nearly 25 in three shifts. People should maintain some civic discipline, too,” Rajan said.

Significantly, Jusco along with Ahmedabad-based Animal Help Foundation, Humane Society International (global animal protection outfit) and Jamshetji Tata Trust have been running a street dog population management programme in the city since April 2014.

So far, over 16,000 strays have been sterilised and vaccinated.