Written by Alok DeshpandeMumbai | Updated: December 9, 2025 06:23 PM IST 4 min readThe Maharashtra government has asked for goats to be released in the forests to curb leopard attacks on human dwellings; meanwhile, the number of stray dogs in Mumbai is around 90,757. (File photo)The Maharashtra government on Tuesday agreed to hold meetings with MLAs to address the growing menace of stray dogs in urban areas and leopard attacks on humans in rural areas, after legislators demanded strict measures during discussions on two separate calling-attention motions on the opening day of the legislature’s Winter Session in Nagpur.Urban Development Minister Madhuri Misal, in her reply on the calling attention motion over the issue of stray dogs, informed the state Legislative Assembly in a written reply that the number of stray dogs in Mumbai is around 90,757, and the number of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shelters is limited to eight.“In municipal corporation areas, the total number of dogs is around 11.88 lakh. While the total number of shelters in all 29 municipal corporation areas is 105,” the reply stated.BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar raised the need to have more shelters and asked if vacant plots would be used to set up shelters immediately. Misal provided details of how the government machinery is following the Supreme Court order.Must Read | Leopard spotted again in Pune’s Pashan, Sutarwadi area, visuals go viralLegislators from all parties demanded to know the concrete measures that would be taken up. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu said that even the legislators are not safe from stray dogs when they visit the constituency.As the MLAs continued with their demands, Misal announced that a meeting with concerned legislators would be held to discuss the issue in detail.Discussing the calling attention motion on leopard attacks on humans, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday said he had asked that goats be released in large numbers in forests to stop leopards from entering human settlements in search of prey.Story continues below this ad“If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state must pay Rs 1 crore as compensation. So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth Rs 1 crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats,” Naik said, while replying to the calling attention motion raised by NCP(SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad on the issue of leopards attacking humans, as majority of cases are concentrated in Pune, Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts.“Earlier, they were described as forest animals, but now their habitat has shifted to sugarcane fields. The behaviour and living patterns of leopards have changed. There are no fruit-bearing trees left in the forest areas, due to which…leopard and other carnivores are venturing out of the forest areas. I have asked the forest officials to plant fruit-bearing trees which will keep the prey in the forest itself,” Naik said while responding to a query.Also Read | Three leopards captured in Shirur within 24 hours, one trapped on Fiat campusNaik also informed the House that the state government has sent a proposal to the Union government to omit the leopard from Schedule I to Schedule-II.Objecting to Naik’s response, Nana Patole said, “As a member of Lok Sabha in the past, I had served in a committee related to wildlife issues. I can assure you that Union government will not approve state’s proposal to change the leopards from Schedule I to Schedule II.”Story continues below this adIndependent MLA Sharad Sonawane from Junnar in Pune district said, “Leopards menace is maximum in my constituency where 55 people have died in leopard attacks. There is a rescue centre in my constituency; its capacity should be increased.”Naik said, “The state has decided to increase the intake capacity of the leopard rescue centre in Junnar. A new rescue centre is also proposed in Ahilyanagar to curb the leopard problem.”As all party MLAs continued to raise the issue, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced to hold division-wise meetings with MLAs and forest and revenue officials to find out solutions to the issue.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd