Council OKs bill on leopard relocation sans Centre’s nod | Mumbai News

Mumbai: The legislative council on Monday cleared Wildlife Protection (Maharashtra Amendment Bill), 2026, that empowers the chief wildlife warden to relocate and sterilise leopards without the Centre’s approval.The assembly had approved it on March 18. The bill will need the governor’s ratification and the President’s assent before it can be enacted. It was introduced to prevent delays in capture of leopards since many have entered human settlements. While clearing it, legislators cautioned against its misuse. Wildlife experts, particularly those who have studied leopards, reacted cautiously. Some wondered if sterilisation could result in behavioural changes. They expressed relief at state forest minister Ganesh Naik’s assertion that leopards will continue to retain their Schedule 1 protection. Naik asserted that the bill does not permit the killing of leopards. He said their population has increased so much that the state plans to set up leopard safaris in every district. “We shall reserve 3,000-5,000 acres for this in every district, where we will plant fruit-bearing trees and create a boundary wall with bamboos that cannot be penetrated.” Section 12 of the bill allows the chief wildlife warden to grant permission, subject to state approval, to any individual or institution for scientific management, including controlling population or translocation of wild animals. Krishna Tiwari, who has studied Mumbai’s leopard situation for two decades, welcomed the move to minimise human-animal conflicts, but cautioned that the outcome of sterilisation will have to be assessed. Honorary wildlife warden Pawan Sharma, who is also an activist from urban wildlife conservation non-profit RAWW, said if leopards are sterilised, their overall behaviour may change, which can affect their survival in the forest.