Pune Forest Department Relocates 10 Leopards to Gujarat Sanctuary Vantara
Junnar, 2nd August 2024: In a significant move to address human-leopard conflicts, the Junnar division of the Pune forest department has relocated 10 leopards to Vantara, a 3,000-acre animal sanctuary in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This operation took place on Wednesday.
The leopards were transported using two large air-conditioned ambulances, each capable of carrying five leopards. The transportation was overseen by a 23-member team from Gujarat, including a zoo manager and a veterinary officer. The leopards were safely placed in cages provided by the team from Gujarat.
The relocation plan was proposed in March and received approval from the Central Zoo Authority of Delhi in June 2024. The approved relocation involved 10 leopards, consisting of four females and six males.
“These leopards were captured from areas with significant human-leopard conflicts, including Pimpri Pendhar, Kalwadi, and Pimpalwandi in Junnar taluka, between March and May 2024,” explained Amol Satpute, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar.
The operation is part of a broader mission focusing on the Yedgaon dam backwaters, where incidents of human-wildlife conflict have increased in recent months. The successful relocation marks a proactive approach by the forest department to ensure the safety and coexistence of both humans and wildlife in the region.
