Govt falling back on goats to protect humans from big cats

Forest minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday said he had asked forest officials to release goats in large numbers in forests to stop leopards from entering human settlements in search of prey.

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He was responding to a calling attention motion of NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad in the legislative assembly regarding the alarming increase in leopard attacks in the state.

"If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state has to pay Rsl crore (as compensation). So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth Rsl crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats," the minister said. The decision will be soon implemented in areas where leopard menace is being reported, he told the lower house.