The minister was replying to a calling attention motion raised by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Jitendra Awhad in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly over the worrying rise in leopard attacks across the state
Maharashtra Minister Ganesh Naik at the state legislature in Nagpur on Tuesday. Pic/X
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday said he had suggested forest officials to release goats in large numbers in forest areas to prevent leopards from straying into human settlements in search of prey, news agency PTI reported.
The minister was replying to a calling attention motion raised by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Jitendra Awhad in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly over the worrying rise in leopard attacks across the state.
"If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state must pay Rs 1 crore (as compensation). So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth Rs 1 crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats," the minister said, according to PTI.
Naik noted that the behaviour and living patterns of leopards have undergone change.
"Earlier, they were described as forest animals, but now their habitat has shifted to sugarcane fields," he added.
The minister also said that Ahilyanagar, Pune, and Nashik districts were witnessing the highest number of leopard-related incidents, PTI reported.
Maharashtra: Two injured after human-leopard conflict at Nagaon near Alibag
Two residents of Nagaon Village, located near the popular Nagaon Beach in Maharashtra's Alibag, were injured on Tuesday following a human–leopard conflict incident, which triggered panic in the locality. Soon after learning about the incident, the Maharashtra Forest Department rushed to the spot.
Considering that leopards have been roaming freely in residential areas, efforts are underway to locate and safely rescue the wild cats from the densely populated area.
In view of the rescue operation, Pune-based wildlife rescue NGO RESQ CT has also departed for Alibag to assist the forest personnel in the mission. The NGO is expected to provide technical expertise and equipment for safely capturing the big cat.
Speaking about the situation, Nagaon's Sarpanch said, "Two people have been injured after a human-leopard conflict. The police team along with the forest department are already here and the situation is under control."
Leopard cubs reunited with mother after two-day rescue operation in Maharashtra's Sangli District
On December 5, villagers from Shirala in Maharashtra's Sangli District alerted animal organisation Sahyadri Rescue Warriors after two leopard cubs were spotted during sugarcane harvesting. The Sahyadri Rescue Warriors team, along with Maharashtra Forest Department officials, immediately reached the site and placed the cubs in a crate to facilitate their reunion with the mother leopard. On December 7, around 5 am, the mother leopard finally returned and successfully retrieved both cubs, concluding a careful and coordinated two-day operation.
(With PTI inputs)
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