After the growing instances of human-leopard conflict in the State, the Maharashtra Government has set up an 11-member committee to look into options for conservation, relocation of leopards, and suggest measures to reduce conflicts. As per information, the number of people killed in attacks by leopards in Maharashtra more than tripled to 27 in the year 2020 compared to eight such incidents recorded in 2019. At the same time, the number of deaths of leopards also rose compared to last year. A total of 172 leopards have died in State in 2020due to various reasons.
Keeping the conflict in mind, the State Government has formed the committee to assess the situation and also to find out the causes behind such conflicts. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray raised concern to form committee to assess such conflicts in the State during State Wildlife Board meeting recently. Sunil Limaye, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife-West) is the President of the technical committee. Dr Vidya Atray, Veterinarian; Dr Bilal Habib, Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun; Dr Anish Andheriya, Member, Maharashtra State Wildlife Board; Bandu Dhotre, Member, Maharashtra State Wildlife Board; Anuj Khare, Member, Maharashtra State Wild life Board; Shivaji Fatangare, retired DFO; Dr Neha Panchamiya; Vishwas Katdhare, Member, Maharashtra State Wildlife Board and Dr Swapnil Sonone, veterinarian are the members of the committee. M Adarsh Reddy is the Member-Secretary of the committee.
