Why is Maharashtra releasing goats to tackle leopard attacks?

The state is releasing tagged goats to create an alternative prey base for leopards, hoping to keep them away from villages and reduce conflict incidents.

What is the proposed change to the Wildlife Protection Act regarding leopards?

A draft aims to shift leopards from Schedule I to Schedule II, potentially streamlining capture orders and response times during conflict situations.

Where have goats reportedly been released in Maharashtra already?

Goats have reportedly already been released in some parts of the Pune district as part of the new initiative.

Home / Environment / Goats Unleashed: Maharashtra's Wild Plan for Leopards

Goats Unleashed: Maharashtra's Wild Plan for Leopards

11 Dec

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Summary

Maharashtra plans to release tagged goats as leopard prey.
The initiative aims to deter leopards from village areas.
A draft to reclassify leopards is also moving through legislature.

Goats Unleashed: Maharashtra's Wild Plan for Leopards

Maharashtra's forest department is piloting a novel strategy to manage increasing leopard conflicts by releasing tagged goats into forest areas. This plan, budgeted at ₹1 crore per district, intends to provide an alternative food source for leopards, thereby discouraging them from approaching human settlements and agricultural lands.

The unusual initiative has drawn a mixed reaction, with some conservation experts cautioning about potential ecological imbalances and increased dependency among carnivores. However, officials maintain that the measure is targeted at districts experiencing acute human-leopard conflict cycles.

Complementing the goat-release program, a draft bill is progressing to reclassify leopards under the Wildlife Protection Act. This potential change aims to grant frontline forest staff greater autonomy in issuing capture orders and responding to conflict incidents swiftly, enhancing public safety.