Maharashtra MLA in leopard costume demands action on attacks

• Maharashtra MLA Sharad Sonawane wore a leopard costume in the assembly to protest rising leopard attacks.
• MLA Sonawane stated 55 people died in his constituency in three months due to leopard attacks, claiming his warnings since 2014 were ignored.
• The protest followed a recent incident where a leopard injured seven people in Nagpur, later tranquilised and moved to safety.
• Maharashtra government is implementing measures like controlled sterilisation, habitat improvement, and AI-powered sirens to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• The state has formally requested the Union government to shift leopards from Schedule-I to Schedule-II of the Wildlife Protection Act for flexible management.

Why It Matters: Rising leopard attacks threaten public safety and prompt government action.