Environment
leopards Removed From Protected List In Maharashtra ; Officials Directed To Declare Attacks On Humans ‘State Disaster’
Leopards are currently listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, a category that provides the highest level of protection and limits action against man-eaters.
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to declare leopard attacks on humans as a “state disaster” and move a proposal in the next cabinet meeting to remove these felines from Schedule I list to allow greater flexibility in managing man-eating animals.
According to media reports, Fadnavis gave these directions during a high-level meeting held at the state secretariat to address the rising incidents of leopard attacks in parts of the state. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and senior officials were present for the meeting.
Leopards are currently listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, a category that provides the highest level of protection and limits action against man-eaters.
Fadnavis said this often creates operational challenges, and asked the state to submit a proposal to the Union government seeking their reclassification under Schedule II.
He called for immediate and long-term measures to address the increasing human-leopard conflict.
The CM ordered immediate deployment of cages at vulnerable locations to capture man-eating leopards, and directed the use of drones to track leopards roaming near villages as well as urban areas.
Two rescue centres for leopards will be established in Pune district within the next two-three months for treatment and rehabilitation of the captured animals, Fadnavis announced.
“Leopard attacks have increased in the state. We need both immediate and long-term measures on a time-bound basis,” the CM said.