Overview
- The forest department proposed a dedicated rescue centre in Shirur with capacity for up to 200 leopards, requiring permissions from state and central authorities.
- A plan to move about 50 leopards from Junnar’s Manikdoh centre to Vantara in Gujarat has been submitted and is awaiting approval from the Central Zoo Authority and Maharashtra’s PCCF.
- Vantara issued a positive initial response, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar publicly endorsed the transfer following a district review meeting.
- Immediate directives include daytime power for farmers in affected talukas from October 31, ₹2 crore for additional capture cages, and the appointment of retired officer Ashok Khadse as nodal officer.
- Officials cite survey findings of six to seven leopards per 100 sq km in the Junnar division and report multiple recent fatalities in Shirur and other Pune talukas.