Centre Clears Leopard Sterilisation Plan in Maharashtra to Reduce Human-Animal Conflict
The Centre clears leopard sterilisation plan in Maharashtra, marking the first time such a project has been approved in the country. The move comes as leopard sightings and attacks have sharply risen in Pune district, especially in the Junnar forest division. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has given an experimental approval for this programme, which will begin with a small group of five female leopards.
Forest department officials said this decision is part of a larger proposal to manage leopard populations through controlled birth measures. The full proposal had sought permission to sterilise 125 leopardesses in the Junnar region. The Centre clears leopard sterilisation plan in Maharashtra after months of discussions and public concern over repeated man-leopard conflicts.
Why the Project Was Cleared
Over the past two years, Junnar and nearby parts of Pune district have reported several deaths and serious injuries due to leopard encounters. Officials said the rapid rise in leopard numbers in these pockets is linked to changes in agricultural patterns.
Key factors include:
• Expansion of sugarcane plantations, which offer leopards safe hiding and breeding spaces
• Availability of livestock prey around farmlands
• Increasing overlap between human activity and leopard movement corridors
A study by the Wildlife Institute of India and the Maharashtra Forest Department mapped hotspots where conflicts have been high. The study supported the suggestion that a targeted birth control method may help slow down population growth in sensitive areas.
How the Sterilisation Will Be Carried Out
The Centre clears leopard sterilisation plan in Maharashtra using an immuno-contraceptive method. This method works through dart-administered vaccines and does not require surgery. Officials said a booster dose will be necessary to make the process effective, and detailed protocols are now being finalised.
The pilot phase will begin in the Junnar forest division under expert supervision. The Wildlife Institute of India will guide the process, ensuring animal safety and scientific monitoring at each stage.
Human-Leopard Conflict in Pune District
Last year, eight people lost their lives in leopard-related incidents, and five more deaths have been reported this year. After consecutive incidents in 2024, authorities issued a red alert for 13 villages in Junnar taluka, asking residents to avoid stepping out early morning and late evening. This year, over 230 villages across Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur and Khed were marked as conflict-prone.
Officials said that once the Centre clears leopard sterilisation plan in Maharashtra, it is expected to ease pressure on these vulnerable regions over time.
Way Forward
The state government is treating this as a sensitive, long-term conservation and safety initiative. Detailed planning is underway to:
• Identify the first set of female leopards for the pilot
• Deploy trained teams for darting and monitoring
• Coordinate with local communities for awareness and safety
• Track long-term impact on leopard movement and conflict patterns
Experts believe this experimental programme could become a model for other regions facing similar challenges.
