Why Is Maharashtra Relocating 50 Leopards From Pune To Gujarat? Why Is It Being Criticised?

Maharashtra is known for having the second-largest leopard population in India. The state has also been facing rising cases of human-leopard conflict, which has now prompted forest officials to plan the relocation of 50 leopards from Pune to Gujarat. But wildlife lovers and experts are not happy with this decision. Here’s why.

Maharashtra To Relocate 50 Leopards To Gujarat 

To address the increasing cases of human-leopard conflict in Maharashtra, the state’s forest department plans to capture 50 leopards in Junnar, Pune. According to a report by Mid-Day, officials aim to relocate these leopards to the animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. In 2025 alone, four human deaths due to leopard attacks have been reported in Pune district. This has pushed officials to take strict action.

However, wildlife enthusiasts and experts have criticised the move. They argue that trapping and capturing random leopards is unscientific. According to them, the forest department should focus on identifying and relocating only the leopards actually involved in attacks. 

Reportedly, a few days back, Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Pune district, Ajit Pawar, stated that apart from relocating these 50 leopards to Gujarat, authorities also plan to set up a rescue and rehabilitation facility in Pune. This facility would be able to accommodate around 200 leopards. After four human deaths this year, pressure on the forest department to trap these big cats has been increasing to prevent further human-wildlife conflicts.

Also Read: Beyond Tigers: 6 Exotic Animals You Can Spot In Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Why Are Wildlife Enthusiasts Criticising The Decision?

According to a report by Mid-Day, Wildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from the Corbett Foundation argues that capturing leopards in such large numbers is not a long-term solution. According to him, population management of wildlife, especially leopards outside protected areas, is a big challenge. Kedar Gore told Mid-Day that this solution might reduce negative interactions temporarily, but cannot solve the problem entirely.

Advocate Pawan Sharma, founder and president of Resqink Association for Wildlife, shared a similar opinion. He said that this decision could impact the entire food chain, indirectly affecting humans as well. He added that both human errors and unnatural behaviour of these big cats need to be addressed to reduce human-wildlife conflict in Maharashtra.

Also Read: What Is A Melanistic Leopard And Where Can You Spot It In India?

What do you think of the Maharashtra forest department’s decision? Is relocating random leopards the ultimate solution, or should officials work on identifying the core of the problem? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Matej Bizjak