Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday (December 13, 2025) made light of the State Forest Minister's suggestion to release goats into the forest to keep leopards away from human settlements, saying that apart from big cats, villagers will also feast on this prey base.
During an informal interaction with reporters here, Mr. Pawar said the idea appeared to have originated from the Forest Department.
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has suggested that forest officials release goats in large numbers in forests to stop leopards from entering human settlements in search of prey.
"If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state must pay ₹1 crore (as compensation). So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth ₹1 crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats," the Forest Minister had said.
When asked about the government's plans to tackle the rising incidents involving leopards, Mr. Pawar said leopards were breeding and living in certain pockets of Maharashtra, especially in sugarcane-growing regions.
