Pune: The Junnar forest division has shifted 20 leopards from the overcrowded Manikdoh centre to the Vantara wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat.Officials said another batch of around 30 big cats may also be relocated, depending on space availability and necessary approvals, as part of efforts to manage the growing number of rescues.The transfer was carried out over Saturday and Sunday under the supervision of forest officials and wildlife veterinarians. Specially designed cages and transport vehicles were used to ensure the animals’ safety during the long journey from Maharashtra to Gujarat.Till now, the rescued animals had been housed at Junnar’s Manikdoh centre, which is one of the state’s prominent facilities for the care of captured or injured leopards. However, officials said the centre was under pressure due to the rising number of big cats captured from human-dominated landscapes across northern parts of the state.Forest officials said the relocation included 10 male and 10 female leopards. Many of these animals were captured after straying into human settlements or after being involved in conflict situations with people. “The number of leopards brought to the rescue centre has increased significantly in the last three months due to rising human-wildlife interactions. The relocation will help reduce the burden on the facility and ensure better care for the animals,” a forest official said. The Manikdoh facility was originally designed to house a limited number of rescued leopards, but the number of animals has exceeded its optimal capacity with increasing conflict cases in agricultural and residential areas. Wildlife experts have repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding in rescue facilities.The transferred animals will be rehabilitated at the Vantara wildlife facility in Jamnagar, which has extensive infrastructure for the treatment and long-term care of rescued wild animals.Officials said the relocation was conducted after obtaining necessary approvals from the forest authorities and wildlife regulators. Veterinary teams monitored the health of the animals before and during the transfer.The move is also aimed to reduce stress among the animals, as overcrowded conditions can lead to behavioural issues and health problems in captive wildlife.Conservationists said such relocations are often necessary when facilities reach their capacity, but they also stressed the importance of long-term strategies to reduce human-wildlife conflict. These include habitat conservation, public awareness and better management of agricultural landscapes where leopards often move in search of prey.
