Overview
- Forest Minister Ganesh Naik told the Assembly he advised releasing goats in forests, saying deploying goats worth Rs 1 crore could prevent leopard forays and reduce compensation payouts after fatal attacks.
- Naik said the state has asked the Centre to move leopards from Schedule I to Schedule II and to permit broader sterilisation, noting New Delhi has so far allowed only a five‑animal trial with a three‑year review.
- He added the measure would be implemented in areas reporting frequent incidents as officials cite shifting leopard behavior from forests to sugarcane fields and prey scarcity near villages.
- The government plans to expand capacity at the Junnar leopard rescue centre and has proposed a new centre in Ahilyanagar, with division‑wise meetings to coordinate responses with MLAs and officials.
- Lawmakers also took up urban animal management, with the Urban Development Minister reporting about 90,757 stray dogs in Mumbai and committing to meetings with legislators to seek solutions.