State to release goats in forest as prey for leopards: Minister Naik

 

 

 

Forest Department has been told to release goats in large numbers to curb the straying of leopards in human settlements. Informing about the decision, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that he has instructed officials to release the goats in core area of forest. The decision is necessary as prey base for wild animals has decline substantially and hence they are straying to attacks dogs and other domestic animals. The issue of deaths of humans in leopard attack has been raging in Western Maharashtra, a key power centre of State, was raised by Jitendra Awhad of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar Group) on Tuesday.

 

He said nearly 67 persons have been killed in attacks by leopards in State since 2023-24. Naik further said since Forest Department pays Rs 1 crore as compensation, he has suggested to officials that they should rather get goats and increase the prey base for leopards. This way they would not need to stray away from core area and search for prey in domestic settlements that often put them at odds with humans. State Government has proposed to hold exhaustive consultation to find a way out. Intervening in the discussion on call attention motion wherein every member in Legislative Assembly wanted to be heard, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule suggested holding Revenue Division wise meeting.

 

Even as Forest Minister Ganesh Naik was assuring members that enough measures are planned to stem the attacks, MLAs were not content. Bawankule said Forest Minister would call individual meeting of six Revenue Divisions on sidelines of current winter session of State Legislature. The suggestion found immediate takers and matters cooled down in the House allowing transaction of other legislative business. The Minister further stated that Forest Department is going to undertake plantation of fruit bearing trees in core area that would boost population of prey base. The result would be that leopard or tigers would not need to stray out of their buffer area for finding their food. He also informed the House that extra cages are being deployed in affected areas and we are ready to provide them on demand. Also, State Government is going to redraft its proposal seeking permission to sterlise the leopards.