Ajit Pawar says 50 leopards to be sent to Vantara after rise in attacks on humans

After repeated leopard attacks in Pune district, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said 50 leopards will be transferred to the Ambani-owned animal rescue and rehabilitation centre Vantara in Gujarat. On October 12, a six-year-old girl was killed in a leopard attack in Shirur taluka, the third such death in 2025. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with district officers, Pawar, who is also the district’s Guardian Minister, said, “We have spoken to Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav. We said people are tired and frustrated. He said leopards should be captured and neutered. A decision has been taken that around 50 leopards will be shifted to Vantara.” In March, six persons were injured after they tried to capture a leopard at the Pavana camping site in Maval taluka. The state forest department later rescued the leopard and filed a case against the persons for alleged violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. In September, a six-year old was killed in Junnar taluka by a leopard. In April, an 85-year-old woman was killed in Shirur taluka. In 2024, eight persons were killed in Pune district in human-leopard conflicts, the second deadliest year in the last 20 years.