Overview
- Forest Minister Ganesh Naik told the Assembly he has asked officials to release goats in large numbers in forests to keep leopards from entering human settlements in search of prey.
- The minister framed the measure as a preventive use of funds, citing Rs 1 crore in compensation payable for four deaths from leopard attacks.
- The state has sent a proposal to the Union government to shift leopards from Schedule I to Schedule II under wildlife law, a move some legislators said is unlikely to be approved.
- Plans include increasing intake at the Junnar leopard rescue centre and proposing a new centre in Ahilyanagar, with division‑wise meetings to be convened by the Revenue Minister to develop solutions.
- Two residents were injured in a human–leopard conflict at Nagaon near Alibag, with the Forest Department and rescue NGO RESQ CT assisting local authorities at the scene.