Pune Forest Dept Proposes Umbrella Conservation For Five Endangered Species
Pune Forest Circle Records ₹18.6 Crore In Wildlife Damage Compensation Amid Growing Man-Animal Conflict
The Pune Forest Department has proposed a comprehensive conservation project covering five wild species—wolf, jackal, fox, civet, and hyena—in response to escalating threats from human encroachment, landscape changes, and interspecies conflicts. Referred to as “Mizo-Carnivorous” by the department, these species, mainly from the dog and cat families, are increasingly vulnerable in Pune’s ecosystem. The proposal has been submitted to the chief wildlife warden for approval, according to a senior forest department official.
The initiative marks a shift from a landscape-based approach to a focused, species-specific strategy. “Last week, we submitted the Mizo-Carnivorous conservation proposal to Maharashtra’s chief wildlife warden. If approved, this project will roll out in three phases, starting with data collection on population and habitat, even in non-forest areas,” informed Tushar Chavan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune.
According to Chavan, these species face serious threats from urban expansion, agricultural growth, and conflicts with stray animals, which lead to hybridization issues. Additionally, poor sanitation and food pollution have introduced diseases that are impacting their populations. Wolves are particularly vulnerable, and the department has proposed establishing a wolf breeding center in Pune to boost population numbers.
In a related concern, the department has noted an expansion in leopard presence beyond known territories like Junnar and Ambegaon to new areas such as Daund, Baramati, Indapur, and parts of Solapur district. While human-leopard conflicts have not yet surfaced in these regions, the rising damage to crops and cattle calls for preemptive mitigation efforts. “A study on leopard territorial spread is underway to understand and address this growth,” Chavan added.
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Forest Department Concerned Over Expanding Leopard Territory
The growing leopard population is now extending into areas outside Pune’s traditional leopard conflict zones, prompting the forest department to consider early intervention in regions like Daund and Baramati.
