Maharashtra Relocates Leopards to Gujarat Amid Rising Human-Wildlife Conflicts

In a significant move to address the rising human-wildlife conflicts, Maharashtra has relocated 25 leopards to the Vantara wildlife rescue center in Gujarat. This initiative follows a surge in the leopard population, which has increased from 101 to 444 in recent years. The state government has signed an agreement to move a total of 50 leopards, aiming to manage the growing leopard population effectively. The recent amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act will empower local authorities to capture and relocate leopards without needing Union government approval, streamlining the process for better wildlife management. This article delves into the implications of these changes and the ongoing efforts to mitigate human-animal conflicts in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 17:35 IST

Leopard Relocation Initiative

A total of twenty-five leopards from Maharashtra have been moved to the Vantara wildlife rescue facility, operated by the Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat, as announced by state minister Ganesh Naik during a legislative council session on Monday.

Naik further revealed that an agreement has been established with the Reliance Foundation to facilitate the relocation of 50 leopards to Vantara.

He explained that the request for relocation arose due to the presence of 150 leopards in Pune district, as reported during discussions on amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act applicable in Maharashtra.

On March 18, the Maharashtra Assembly endorsed the 2026 Wildlife Protection Maharashtra Amendment Bill, which aims to modify the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act, according to reports from a local media outlet.

This amendment will grant the state government the authority to capture and relocate leopards without needing prior approval from the Union government, a process that was previously mandatory.

The bill received approval from the council on Monday and will take effect only after obtaining the president's assent, as it involves changes to a central law.

This decision comes in response to increasing incidents of human-animal conflict in Maharashtra, coinciding with a significant rise in the leopard population. The minister noted that the leopard count has surged from 101 to 444 over the last seven to eight years.

In Pune district, a large-scale capture operation commenced in October following the tragic death of a five-year-old girl due to a leopard attack in Shirur taluka. By December, reports indicated that the Junnar forest division had captured approximately 110 leopards, most of which were placed at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, originally designed for only 45 leopards.

Naik stated that the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act was necessary because the chief wildlife warden lacks the authority to manage or relocate leopards in human-leopard conflict situations without Union government approval under section 12.

This complex and lengthy process hampers timely scientific management and relocation of leopards, as well as effective responses to human-leopard conflicts in the state, Naik emphasized.

The new bill will empower the chief wildlife warden to implement essential measures for the scientific management of leopards, including their relocation and population control, with state government consent.