Maharashtra is facing a worrying spike in leopard attacks, with several children losing their lives and adults being injured across Junnar, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Nashik, Dhule, Mumbai outskirts, Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha. Fear has grown so severe that many families are restricting children from playing outdoors or walking to school.
In a dramatic protest during the Winter Session, Independent MLA Sharad Sonawane entered the Assembly wearing a leopard costume to draw urgent attention to the crisis. He claimed the state now has 9,000–10,000 leopards, far beyond manageable limits, and alleged that Junnar alone has seen 55 deaths in the past three months. Instead of concrete action, he said, the government is advising people to wear metal neck collars for protection.
Sonawane demanded a statewide rescue operation to capture and relocate leopards, proposing rescue centres capable of housing 2,000 animals within three months. He urged the immediate establishment of centres in Junnar and Ahmednagar and suggested separating male and female leopards to naturally control breeding.
Calling for leopard attacks to be declared a State Disaster, he urged swift action from the Chief Minister, insisting that rural families cannot continue living in fear and that no leopard should roam freely within 90 days.
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