Nagpur, 10 Dec 

In a striking protest, Junnar MLA Sharad Sonawane wore a leopard costume at Maharashtra’s legislature on Wednesday to highlight the rising leopard menace in the state.

The gesture coincided with a leopard attack in Nagpur’s Pardi area earlier that day, which left seven people injured. The animal was later captured by the forest department.

Speaking at Vidhan Bhavan, Sonawane said, “55 people have died in leopard attacks in Junnar taluka of Pune district in the last three months. People are living in fear.” He urged the government to establish rescue centres capable of housing 2,000 leopards across Junnar taluka and Ahilyanagar district.

Responding to the government’s plan to release goats into forests as prey for leopards, he argued that the strategy was ineffective since leopards increasingly inhabit sugarcane fields and areas near human settlements.

“The government should declare a state emergency and capture at least 2,000 leopards, placing them in rescue centres,” Sonawane added, emphasizing the urgency of protecting both humans and wildlife.

The MLA’s unusual approach drew attention to the escalating human-wildlife conflict and demanded immediate policy action.