Goats to be released in forests to curb leopard attacks on humans: Maharashtra minister

Nagpur, Dec 9 (PTI) Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday said he had asked forest officials to release goats in large numbers in forests to stop leopards from entering human settlements in search of prey.

He was responding to a calling attention motion of NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad in the legislative assembly regarding the alarming increase in leopard attacks in the state.

"If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state has to 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.

"We will soon implement this decision in areas where leopard menace is being reported," Naik told the lower house.

The behaviour and living patterns of leopards have changed, he said, adding, "Earlier, they were described as forest animals, but now their habitat has shifted to sugarcane fields." Ahilyanagar, Pune and Nashik districts were reporting the highest number of leopard-related incidents, the minister said.

Forest officials have also observed that female leopards are increasingly giving birth to litters of four cubs, which is increasing their population fast, he said.

As to the proposal to sterilise leopards for curbing their population, Naik said the Union government had asked the state forest department to sterilise only five animals on an experimental basis and wait for three years to see the results. But the state has decided to carry out experimental sterilisation and approach the Union government after six months to increase its scope, he said.

To curb the movement of tigers and leopards outside forest areas, bamboo would be planted around dense forests like the Tadoba reserve to act as a hedge, the minister said.

"There are no fruit-bearing trees left in our forests, due to which the prey of leopard and other carnivores are venturing out. I have asked officials to plant fruit-bearing trees which will keep the prey in the forest," Naik said while responding to a query.

The leopard is a Schedule-I animal which restricts the government while taking steps to reduce attacks on humans, and the state has sent a proposal to the Union government to shift the species to Schedule-II of the Wildlife Protection Act, the minister said.

But Congress MLA Nana Patole said such a proposal was not likely to be accepted. "As a member of the Lok Sabha in the past, I had served in a committee on wildlife issues. I can assure you that the Union government will not approve the proposal to shift leopards to Schedule-II," he said.

MLA Sharad Sonawane from Junnar in Pune district said his constituency was facing the greatest threat from leopards, with 55 people having died so far. "There is a leopard rescue centre in my constituency, its capacity should be increased," he said.

Naik replied that the government has decided to increase the intake capacity of the centre in Junnar. A new rescue centre is also proposed in Ahilyanagar district, the minister informed. PTI ND KRK