1 Crore Goats for Leopards? Animal Lovers Warn of Disaster, Not Solution.

• Leopard attacks are increasing in Pune's Junnar, Shirur, and Ambegaon areas, causing fear among residents.
• Forest Minister Ganesh Naik proposed releasing 1 crore goats into forests to address the leopard issue.
• Environmentalists and wildlife experts strongly oppose the proposal, calling it a temporary fix that could worsen human-leopard conflict.
• Experts argue that conflict stems from habitat loss, population growth, and lack of management, not solely food availability.
• They advocate for long-term solutions like managed trapping, safe rehabilitation, sterilization, and comprehensive conservation plans.

Why It Matters: Proposed goat release for leopards risks worsening human-leopard conflict in Junnar-Ambegaon.