Maharashtra MLA Dresses as Leopard to Raise Alarm Over Rising Attacks
Maharashtra MLA Dresses as Leopard to Raise Alarm Over Rising Attacks
Sharad Sonawane, the MLA from Junnar, created a stir in the Maharashtra legislative assembly on Wednesday by appearing in a full leopard costume, complete with artificial fur and a lifelike mask. The unusual gesture was his way of drawing urgent attention to the growing number of leopard attacks in the state, a crisis he says has been neglected for years.
The Shiv Sena lawmaker expressed frustration at what he described as prolonged governmental inaction. “We should declare an emergency over these attacks,” Sonawane said. “I have been warning the authorities since 2014, yet the situation remains ignored. Rescue centers need to be established, and leopards should be safely relocated to these facilities.”
Sonawane also highlighted the dire statistics from his own constituency, stating that 55 people had lost their lives to leopard attacks in just the past three months. He pointed out that he had already raised concerns about the issue during the 2014-15 winter session.
The MLA’s dramatic protest comes shortly after a leopard entered a residential neighborhood in Nagpur and injured seven people. Wildlife officials acted promptly, sedating the animal and relocating it safely. Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Ganesh Naik visited the injured, assuring that all seven were now out of danger and expressing hope that such incidents could be prevented in the future.
Naik also outlined several measures being implemented to reduce human-leopard conflicts. Small-scale sterilization trials have begun, with plans to evaluate their success over six months before seeking central government approval for expansion. Efforts are also underway to improve leopard habitats by planting trees that support their natural prey, reducing the likelihood that these predators will leave the jungle in search of food. Additionally, AI-driven sirens have been installed in areas prone to leopard encounters to alert residents if a leopard—or even its shadow—is detected nearby.
#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: Junnar MLA Sharad Sonawane reaches the Assembly wearing leopard print clothes to protest against rising Leopard attacks.
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2025
He says, "An emergency should be declared for leopard attacks in the state. I have been raising this issue since 2014, but the… pic.twitter.com/tfUJVC9pam
Districts such as Ahilyanagar, Pune, and Nashik have experienced the highest number of incidents, highlighting the regional hotspots for this conflict. However, efforts to address the problem face legal constraints because leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. The state government has proposed reclassifying them under Schedule II to allow more flexibility in managing these encounters.
