Pune: 20 Leopards Relocated From Junnar’s Manikdoh Rescue Centre To Gujarat’s Vantara Facility
Pune: 20 Leopards Relocated From Junnar’s Manikdoh Rescue Centre To Gujarat’s Vantara Facility
Junnar, March 7, 2026: The Junnar Forest Division has witnessed a significant rise in incidents of leopard attacks on humans over the past decade. In response to the increasing human–leopard conflict, especially in the highly sensitive areas of Junnar and Shirur, forest officials had captured several leopards involved in attacks on humans and livestock.
These leopards were housed at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre under the Junnar Forest Division. However, since the centre has a capacity of only 50 animals, authorities decided to relocate some of the leopards to other protected facilities across India.
Following discussions, a proposal was submitted to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), New Delhi, seeking permission to transfer 50 leopards to the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (Vantara) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The proposal received approval on December 20, 2025.
After completing all necessary procedures, a 25-member team from the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, led by veterinary officer Dr. Gaurav Srivastava, arrived in Junnar on March 6, 2026.
On March 7, 2026, under the guidance of Dr. Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Western Region, and Ashish Thackeray, Conservator of Forests, Pune, 20 of the approved 50 leopards — including 10 males and 10 females — were successfully transported to Vantara in specially equipped, air-conditioned rescue vans. All necessary veterinary and technical precautions were taken to ensure the safe relocation of the animals.
The relocation process was carried out under the supervision of senior forest officials and in the presence of Prashant Khade, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar Forest Division; Lokesh Patil, Probationary Deputy Conservator of Forests; Smita Rajhans, Assistant Conservator of Forests; Amrit Shinde, Assistant Conservator of Forests; Pradeep Chavan, Range Forest Officer, Junnar; Chaitanya Kamble, Range Forest Officer, Otur; along with staff from Wildlife SOS and other field officers and employees.
“The Junnar Forest Division stated that it continues to implement various measures to reduce human–wildlife conflict and has appealed to citizens to cooperate with the Forest Department,” said Prashant Khade, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar Forest Division.
