Maharashtra Forest Department Signs Pact with Vantara to Relocate 50 Leopards from Junnar

To address rising human-wildlife conflicts and overcrowding at rescue facilities, the Maharashtra Forest Department has signed an agreement with Vantara to relocate 50 leopards from Junnar in Pune district to a wildlife centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Pune | 7 March, 2026: In a significant step aimed at managing increasing human–leopard encounters in Maharashtra, the state’s Forest Department has entered into an agreement with the Vantara wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility to relocate 50 leopards from the Junnar region of Pune district. The initiative was announced by state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik as part of a broader strategy to address the growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the area.

According to officials, the leopards currently housed at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar will be shifted to the Vantara wildlife facility located in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The rescue centre has been under significant pressure due to a steady increase in captured leopards from conflict-prone villages in and around Junnar, Ambegaon, and Shirur. Authorities say the relocation will help ease overcrowding at the centre while ensuring better care and rehabilitation for the animals.

The relocation proposal was first discussed in November 2025 following a surge in leopard sightings and attacks in rural areas of Pune district. Forest officials noted that sugarcane fields and fragmented forest patches in the region often provide shelter for the big cats, bringing them into close proximity with human settlements and agricultural land. As a result, the number of captured leopards being kept at the rescue centre has increased sharply in recent months.

Before finalising the relocation plan, a team from the Vantara facility visited the Manikdoh centre to assess the health and conditions of the animals and evaluate whether they could be safely transferred. Following the inspection, a detailed proposal was submitted to the Central Zoo Authority for necessary approvals. Once the regulatory clearances were obtained, the Forest Department formalised its partnership with Vantara to implement the relocation project.

Officials said the initiative will be carried out in phases. In the first stage, around 20 leopards have been shortlisted for relocation and are expected to be transported to Jamnagar in the coming days. Further transfers will be considered after reviewing the outcome of the initial phase and assessing the capacity of the receiving facility.

The collaboration is also expected to include technical cooperation and training programmes for forest department staff. Experts from the Vantara wildlife centre will assist with wildlife management practices, veterinary care, and rehabilitation methods to strengthen the state’s capacity in handling rescued animals and conflict situations.

While the move is being seen by authorities as a practical solution to reduce pressure on existing facilities and improve management of rescued animals, it has also sparked debate among conservationists and wildlife activists. Some experts argue that large predators like leopards are highly territorial and relocating them far from their natural habitats could lead to stress and behavioural challenges. They have called for long-term measures such as habitat restoration, protection of wildlife corridors, and better coexistence strategies between humans and wildlife.

Despite these concerns, the Forest Department maintains that the relocation is necessary to balance conservation goals with public safety in one of Maharashtra’s most complex human-wildlife conflict zones. Authorities say the initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes monitoring systems, rescue operations, and community awareness programmes aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife across the region.

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