GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2495
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
Leopard Safari Conservation Project in Nashik
2495. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has taken note of the escalating human-leopard conflict in
Nashik...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2495 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 Leopard Safari Conservation Project in Nashik
2495. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has taken note of the escalating human-leopard conflict in Nashik district in Maharashtra that has resulted in numerous causalities and injuries during the last five years;
(b) the details of immediate actions intended to enhance rescue and conflict resolution infrastructure like rapid response teams, adequate cages and AI- based early detection systems in the affected zones;
(c) whether a specific Leopard Safari Conservation Project, inspired by successful models in Junnar, will be launched in Nashik to protect surrounding communities and promote sustainable eco-tourism; and
(d) if so, the timeline and monitoring arrangements for implementing the project and if not, the reasons for withholding approval? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b) Protection and management of wild animals and their habitats, including management of human wildlife conflict is primarily the responsibility of the concerned States/Union Territories.
As informed by the Chief Wild Life Warden, Maharashtra, the details of human deaths and incidences of human injuries reported in human- leopard conflicts in Nashik district are as below:
Year Human causalities Human injuries 2021-22 6 6 2022-23 5 6 2023-24 4 3 2024-25 7 6 2025-26 9 17 Forest Department has operationalized the Rapid Response Teams(RRT) with trained staff and essential equipments, awareness programmes are undertaken in highly sensitive areas. Further, as the conflict are predominantly in non forest areas, AI-based camera warning systems and auditory deterrents such as Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent System (ANIDERS) are used on a pilot basis.(c) and (d) A proposal for establishment of Leopard Rescue Centre in 10 hectare area in Mhasrul, West Nashik Forest Division, Maharashtra was received in the Central Zoo Authority on 30th October
2025. The proposal was considered by the Expert Group on Zoo Designing in its 119th meeting held on 06.11.2025. The State of Maharashtra is required to submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Central Zoo Authority.