Pune: Ten leopards captured from the villages of Khed, Ambegaon, Junnar, and Shirur in the Junnar forest range are set to depart for Gujarat today.
These leopards, which had become aggressive and posed a threat to local livestock and humans, were treated at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center. Following their stabilization, they will be relocated to a new home in the Central Zoo in Jamnagar, Gujarat, owned by Anant Ambani.
Rising Leopard-Human Conflict in Northern Pune District
The northern Pune district has witnessed a rising number of conflicts between leopards and humans, attributed to the growing leopard population. This situation has prompted demands for relocating the leopards from the Junnar forest range to other sanctuaries.
In response, the first phase of this relocation process involves transferring ten leopards to Gujarat.
Kolhe's Demand
MP Amol Kolhe has been actively involved in addressing this issue. The leopard attacks have endangered farmers' livestock and led to human casualties. Kolhe raised the matter in Parliament, leading to the decision to relocate Junnar's leopards to Gujarat.
Government Approval and Long-Term Solutions
The Junnar forest department has received approval from the central government for this relocation. A proposal for controlling leopard breeding was submitted to the Maharashtra government a few months ago.
The rapid breeding of leopards means that relocating some to Gujarat is a temporary solution. Kolhe emphasized that controlling leopard breeding and declaring the area a disaster zone are sustainable long-term solutions to this problem.
