In a first-of-its-kind move aimed at addressing the growing tension between human settlements and wildlife, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved a new leopard sterilization pilot project for Maharashtra. The initiative, cleared on Monday (November 17, 2025), marks the beginning of a controlled experiment to stabilize leopard populations in regions where frequent encounters have led to loss of life, livestock damage and mounting fear among local communities.
The sterilization project will be executed by the state forest department and initially limited to select districts that have reported a sharp rise in leopard sightings and attacks over the past decade. According to officials, the first phase will involve the sterilization of five female leopards, after which the outcomes will be closely monitored before any large-scale expansion is considered.
Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar described the approval as a critical intervention at a time when Maharashtra has seen an alarming increase in leopard-related incidents. Forest secretary Dr. Ashish Thakre noted that the department had been engaging with the Centre for months, citing the need for scientific methods to handle an “unprecedented surge” in human–leopard conflict. Over the last five years alone, encounters between leopards and people have intensified drastically, with attacks being reported from sugarcane belts, expanding villages and areas on the fringes of forests.
Officials say the current leopard population in the state is estimated to be around 1,300—one of the highest densities in the country. Maharashtra's unique landscape, particularly the vast sugarcane fields of Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik, provides ideal cover for leopards. These dense fields act like temporary shelters for the animals, often bringing them into sudden contact with farm workers. Local residents and wildlife rescue teams have repeatedly voiced concerns over nocturnal sightings, cattle loss and injuries caused by startled leopards.
The sterilization project will be implemented in phases. The forest department plans to capture and sterilize identified female leopards from high-conflict zones. The procedure will be similar to the methods used for controlling urban stray animal populations but adapted under strict wildlife protocols. Post-procedure, each leopard will be monitored through radio collars to study changes in movement, behaviour and interaction with human settlements.
Experts emphasize that sterilization project is not intended as a population-reduction strategy but rather a tool to stabilize numbers in areas where reproduction rates have surged beyond ecological balance. Wildlife biologists also see it as a preventive step that could reduce the number of cubs growing up near human settlements—a pattern increasingly observed in western Maharashtra.
The sterilization pilot project was expected to begin in January 2024 across the Pune region, where several fatal leopard attacks have taken place in recent years. While the decision has invited cautious optimism, officials admit that sterilization alone cannot solve the conflict. Strengthening rescue mechanisms, improving community awareness, enhancing night patrols and promoting habitat conservation will remain equally important.
As Maharashtra prepares to roll out this unprecedented programme, all eyes will be on its results. If successful, the initiative may offer a new model for other states struggling with similar challenges—proving that coexistence between people and wildlife requires innovation, patience and science-backed solutions.
