Maharashtra launches leopard birth control pilot to curb human-animal conflict
Maharashtra has received approval to launch India's first leopard birth control program in Junnar, an area where people and leopards often clash.
The plan? Focus on five female leopards from Pune district (where there are about 1,300 leopards) with the effectiveness of the program expected to be evident in six months.
If things go well, the project could expand to other regions.
How it works—and why it matters
With help from the Wildlife Institute of India, experts will use a non-surgical fertility control method at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre—so no surgeries for the big cats.
The leopards will be closely monitored with radio collars to keep track of their health and movements.
If this pilot succeeds, it could shape how India handles big cat populations nationwide and help make life safer for both people and wildlife.