Centre Approves Experimental Leopard Sterilisation Plan in Maharashtra to Manage Population Growth

The Union Ministry of Environment has approved a leopard sterilisation project in Maharashtra's Junnar forest division to control the leopard population and mitigate human-leopard conflicts. This initiative will begin with five leopardesses as part of an experimental programme.

Concerns about leopard sightings and attacks on humans have prompted action. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved a Maharashtra government proposal for leopard birth control. This initiative will begin in Pune's Junnar forest division, according to officials. The project aims to manage the leopard population through sterilisation, starting with five leopardesses.

Experimental Sterilisation Programme

The forest department submitted a proposal last year to manage 125 leopardesses using sterilisation. Approval has now been granted for an experimental programme involving five leopardesses. A senior forest department official confirmed this development. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) researchers had previously suggested controlled sterilisation to address the rising leopard numbers.

The WII team has extensively studied leopard behaviour, population trends, and conflict incidents in Junnar. Their research led to the recommendation for a sterilisation initiative. After thorough discussions with WII scientists, the ministry approved the plan. The scientific evaluation was crucial in finalising the strategy for Junnar, noted an official.

Immuno-Contraception Technique

The sterilisation process involves an immuno-contraception technique. Leopardesses will be captured and injected with an immuno-contraceptive to render them infertile, explained an official. This method aims to control the growth of the leopard population effectively.

In recent weeks, three individuals have died due to leopard attacks in Pune district's Shirur tehsil, part of the Junnar forest division. These incidents have sparked public outrage, leading to a forest department vehicle being set on fire by angry residents.

A man-eating leopard was shot by sharpshooters in Shirur tehsil during early November. This incident highlights the urgency of addressing human-leopard conflicts in the region. The sterilisation programme is seen as a step towards mitigating such conflicts and ensuring safety for both humans and leopards.

The approval of this experimental programme marks a significant move towards managing wildlife populations responsibly. By adopting scientific methods like immuno-contraception, authorities aim to balance conservation efforts with human safety concerns.

With inputs from PTI