Maharashtra Implements AI and Drone Technology to Combat Deadly Leopard Attacks

In the past month, three fatalities have been reported due to leopard attacks in Shirur tehsil of Maharashtra.

Pune: Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik announced on Monday that the government has enhanced its efforts to address the growing leopard threat by implementing AI-based alert systems, additional cages, and drone surveillance across Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Nashik districts.

During a press conference following a review meeting, Naik stated that local youth and volunteers are being engaged to assist forest department teams in capturing the dangerous predators.

The Junnar Forest Division, particularly Shirur tehsil, has witnessed three human fatalities from leopard attacks in just over a month.

These incidents have triggered significant public outrage, with some residents recently setting fire to a forest department vehicle in protest.

"We previously had 200 cages deployed, but have now added 1,000 more cages in Junnar, which has experienced the highest number of incidents," Naik explained, while acknowledging concerns raised by animal welfare advocates regarding the use of livestock as bait in these cages.

"AI-based warning equipment has been strategically installed at one-kilometer intervals throughout affected areas. These systems automatically trigger alerts when leopards enter village boundaries," he added.

The minister also mentioned that authorities are now ensuring daytime electricity supply to farmers, eliminating the need for nighttime irrigation activities and thereby reducing the risk of dangerous wildlife encounters.

According to Naik, the government has allocated Rs 11 crore specifically for enhancing equipment and personnel resources dedicated to addressing leopard-related emergencies.

"Forest officials have been equipped with specialized vehicles and surveillance drones to strengthen monitoring capabilities and enable faster response times," he noted.

With the upcoming Kumbh Mela religious gathering in Nashik, the minister confirmed that enhanced safety measures have also been implemented throughout that district.

"We are implementing comprehensive measures with urgency to reduce leopard threats and minimize human-animal conflicts across all three districts. Officials have been authorized to utilize emergency funds immediately without waiting for district administration approval," Naik concluded.