Maharashtra has stepped up efforts to address rising leopard sightings and attacks across parts of the state.
Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said on Monday that authorities are deploying AI-based alert systems, drones, and additional cages in Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Nashik districts. He spoke after a review meeting and confirmed that volunteers and local youth are being brought in to assist forest teams in capturing the animals.
Shirur tehsil in the Junnar Forest Division has been one of the worst-affected areas. Three people have died in leopard attacks there in just over a month. Public anger has intensified, with residents recently setting a forest department vehicle on fire.
Naik said the number of cages in Junnar has been significantly increased. “Earlier, 200 cages were in place. Now, 1,000 more cages have been placed in Junnar, which has been the most affected region,” he said.
He added that objections from animal lovers regarding the use of livestock as bait have been noted.
To warn residents, AI-based equipment has been installed at one-kilometre intervals. “These systems raise a warning if a leopard enters a village,” he said. The minister also said that power supply is now being provided to farmers during the day, reducing the need for them to enter their fields at night, when leopard encounters are more likely.
The state has allocated ₹11 crore to strengthen machinery and manpower for leopard-related emergencies. “Vehicles and drones have been provided to forest officials to strengthen surveillance and rapid response,” Naik said.
Safety measures have also been increased in Nashik ahead of the Kumbh Mela. Naik said the government is implementing steps “on a war footing” to reduce leopard threats and limit human-animal conflict in the affected districts. “We have directed officials to utilise emergency funds without waiting for approvals from the district administration,” he added.