Mumbai: With increasing human-leopard interactions reported across Maharashtra, the focus is shifting to education, awareness, and preparedness as key tools for co-existence. In Junnar, the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre (MLRC), run jointly by the Maharashtra Forest Department and Wildlife SOS, has emerged as a focal point in this effort.
About International Leopard Day
International Leopard Day is observed on May 3 every year to serve as a timely reminder of the critical need to protect one of India’s most adaptable yet misunderstood big cats. Along with preservation of the species, there have been multiple efforts to spread awareness among the locals in rural Maharashtra to educate them about peaceful co-existence with the big cats.
The role is being played by MLRC, which is not only serving as a treatment facility for leopards but also as a platform for knowledge-sharing, forest staff training, and public outreach. From January 2024 to March 2025, the centre has conducted over 60 awareness programmes to foster peaceful coexistence and build community preparedness. These include conservation workshops for students, training sessions for forest officials, human-leopard conflict mitigation training programs and educational tours at MLRC.
Particularly impactful were the four conflict mitigation sessions held in collaboration with the Junnar Forest Division, and the disaster management awareness programmes that offered hands-on training to forest department staff and local responders. Events in schools such as Annasaheb Awate Vidyalaya and MIT College helped sensitise young minds, while sessions in Narayangaon directly engaged local communities in understanding leopard behaviour and response protocols.
Through these initiatives, Junnar Forest Division and Wildlife SOS continue to focus on mitigating conflict, improving rescue readiness, and nurturing an informed ecosystem of co-existence. These efforts underscore the belief that conservation must include those most directly impacted by building awareness, preparedness, and trust within communities that share space with leopards.
Smita Rajhans, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Junnar Forest Division, said, “These workshops have helped build a deeper understanding of leopard behaviour among our frontline teams. This shared learning continues to enhance our field response and strengthen our efforts to reduce conflict sustainably.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, “Leopards have long navigated the delicate balance between wilderness and human settlements, often at great cost to both. Our focus is to shift the narrative from fear to informed response, ensuring that every rescue is followed by education, and every conflict by meaningful outreach.”
Mahendra Dhore, project manager at MLRC, said, “We’ve seen firsthand how empowered communities and trained officials can de-escalate high-risk situations. When people understand leopard behaviour, conflict transforms into compassion.”
