'Villagers will feast...' Maharashtra DyCM Ajit Pawar mocks forest minister's idea to use goats to curb leopard attacks

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday openly ridiculed a suggestion by the state's Forest Minister to release goats into forests as a prey base, arguing the plan would likely feed villagers before it deterred any leopards.

During an informal interaction with media persons, Pawar chuckled as he dismissed the idea, which he suggested originated within the Forest Department.

"Instead of leopards, even villagers will feast on the goats released as prey," the Deputy CM quipped.

The suggestion came from Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, who proposed releasing large numbers of goats into forested areas to prevent leopards from entering human settlements in search of food.

Naik had rationalized the idea by comparing the cost of compensation to the expense of the new prey base.

"If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state must pay ₹1 crore (as compensation). So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth ₹1 crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats," the forest minister had previously stated.

Ajit Pawar suggests sterilization

When addressing the wider strategy for tackling rising leopard incidents, Pawar acknowledged the growing challenge, noting that leopards are breeding and thriving in certain regions, particularly in sugarcane-growing areas of the state.

Pawar mentioned having enquired with the Vantara zoo, which indicated it could take custody of only up to 50 leopards. Given that he has heard estimates suggesting "nearly 2,000 leopards in Maharashtra," Pawar stressed the need for more comprehensive measures.

He identified sterilization as a potentially effective long-term option, though he cautioned that its impact would only be realized over a long period since sterilized leopards would still need to hunt for food.

The government is currently working to enhance the capacity of existing rescue centers and establish new facilities to manage the issue. According to the state Forest Department, Ahilyanagar, Pune, and Nashik districts are currently reporting the highest number of leopard-related incidents.