Maharashtra Signs Pact With Vantara To Relocate 50 Leopards From Manikdoh Rescue Centre

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Forest Department has entered into an agreement with Vantara to relocate 50 leopards currently housed at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Pune district. The decision is intended to ease pressure on the overcrowded rescue centre and help address ongoing human–wildlife conflict in the region, according to a report by The Free Press Journal. 

State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik announced the agreement through a social media post, stating that the initiative represents a significant step towards managing human–wildlife interactions more effectively. Officials confirmed that the leopards selected for relocation are currently housed at the Manikdoh facility, which has been receiving animals captured during conflict incidents in the Junnar region. 

The plan to shift the animals was initially proposed in November 2025 after a rise in leopard sightings and attacks in villages across the area. Authorities said the growing number of rescued leopards at the centre had made it necessary to explore long-term management options. 

Before finalising the agreement, a team from the Jamnagar-based Vantara facility visited the rescue centre to assess the feasibility of relocating the animals. Following the inspection, a proposal was sent to the Central Zoo Authority seeking approval. After receiving the required clearances, the state government proceeded with the pact, as per reports. 

Forest officials said around 20 leopards are expected to be transferred in the first phase, likely within a week, with additional relocations planned later after reviewing the initial transfer. 

However, the decision has drawn criticism from animal welfare groups. Activists recently raised concerns about the treatment of captured leopards in Maharashtra, alleging that some animals had been kept in metal trap cages for extended periods. Members of the Jivdaya Foundation warned that prolonged confinement could cause severe stress and injuries to the animals. 

Forest officials have maintained that the animals are undergoing rehabilitation and that many rescued leopards have already been released back into the wild.

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