Human-leopard conflict: State forest dept, Wildlife SOS step up awareness, mitigation methods

State forest department officials said leopards in Maharashtra often face agitations and conflicts with humans, responding with either a "fight or flight" reaction

From 2022 to 2024, 11 persons died in this human leopard conflict. Another 25 persons suffered injuries according to state forest department data. (File/ Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

While human deaths as a result of attacks by big cats are rare, an analysis by the State forest department has recorded 11 deaths due to the human-leopard conflict in the last three years in Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur and Khed taluka in Pune district.

Due to this rise in human-leopard conflicts in Junnar, Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department, has expanded awareness sessions within the region.

The combined team actively addresses human-leopard interface scenarios in the state through a variety of initiatives aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence between leopards and local villagers.

State forest department officials said leopards in Maharashtra often face agitations and conflicts with humans, responding with either a “fight or flight” reaction.

Unfortunately, this often leads to negative outcomes, with leopards either being vilified or ending up trapped, incarcerated, or even killed by angry mobs.

Wildlife SOS officials also pointed out that the root cause of this conflict stems from human activities such as deforestation, encroachment, and poaching, which disrupt leopard habitats and force them to adapt to living near human settlements.

“This close proximity increases the risk of retaliatory killings, severely impacts leopard survivability and increases conflict incidences,” the official said.

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From 2022 to 2024, 11 persons died in this human leopard conflict. Another 25 persons suffered injuries according to state forest department data. An ongoing Wildlife Institute of India survey indicates that there are approximately 400-450 leopards in Junnar, Shirur, Khed and Ambegaon region.

To combat this issue, Wildlife SOS, along with the forest department, focus on public awareness and education campaigns. Operating out of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, the organisation works closely with local farmers and villagers to train and sensitise them about leopard avoidance behaviour.

“This hands-on approach further minimises negative interactions between leopards and humans, ensuring a safer environment for both,” Mahendra Dhore, project manager Wildlife SOS said.

Recently, an awareness session was conducted at R P Sabnis Vidyalaya in Narayangaon in Junnar, Maharashtra by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the forest department, addressing the escalating human-leopard conflict in Junnar region. The session, attended by approximately 1,200 students, aimed to educate the community on the do’s and don’ts in conflict-prone areas.

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Key leopard avoidance strategies according to Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO, Wildlife SOS include:

● Always going out with a torch at night.
● Carrying a stick.
● Venturing outside in groups of at least two to three people.
● Keeping cattle in secure, enclosed spaces.
● Maintaining clean surroundings to avoid attracting stray animals that leopards might prey upon.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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