AI alerts, cage traps, and sterilisation programme part of new strategy to curb big cat threat; the incidents had sparked anger among residents, who accused the forest department of negligence and staged a roadblock protest
Two hundred cages will be deployed immediately to trap leopards entering human settlements, with 1000 more to be procured. Captured leopards will be relocated to dense forests. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday visited Pimperkhed village in Shirur taluka, where recent leopard attacks have claimed multiple lives.
The incidents had sparked anger among residents, who accused the forest department of negligence and staged a roadblock protest. The protest was withdrawn after Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi intervened.
During his visit, Naik met the victims’ families and offered condolences. He directed officials to shoot any leopard confirmed to be a man-eater. “If a leopard becomes a man-eater, it should be eliminated immediately. We cannot remain silent spectators while people live in fear,” he said.
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik meets the victims’ families and offers condolences
The minister announced urgent measures to control leopard attacks in Pune and Ahmednagar districts. Two hundred cages will be deployed immediately to trap leopards entering human settlements, with 1000 more to be procured. Captured leopards will be relocated to dense forests.
Highlighting long-term plans, Naik said a sterilisation programme will be launched to control the leopard population. “If we fail to act now, leopards may soon roam in villages like stray dogs,” he added. The sterilisation proposal is awaiting central government approval. Each district has been allocated Rs 11 crore for leopard management. The Junnar Rescue Centre, which currently houses around 40 leopards, will expand its capacity.
An AI and satellite-based system, modelled after Chandrapur, will alert villagers through sirens when a leopard is nearby. The system will be implemented first in Pune and later in Ahmednagar. “The forest department will remain on alert to prevent further loss of life, and cooperation from local communities will be essential in overcoming this crisis,” Naik said.
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