Ahilyanagar farmers urge PM Modi to act on rising leopard threat

Nashik: Nearly 20,000 farmers from Ahilyanagar district have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent measures to curb the rising leopard threat in the region, citing increasing attacks on humans and a sharp growth in the leopard population.The farmers have also demanded amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, arguing that existing provisions are inadequate to safeguard rural communities facing repeated encounters with big cats.
The letters were dispatched from the Rahuri post office on Tuesday after a large march led by former state minister Prajakt Tanpure.Speaking to reporters, Tanpure said there has been a worrying rise in leopard attacks across Ahilyanagar district in recent months. He said the increasing leopard population has created fear among villagers and made immediate intervention essential to prevent further loss of life.Tanpure said the farmers' collective plea to the Prime Minister seeks amendments in the Wildlife Protection Act that would enable authorities to respond more effectively to animal attack incidents. He said nearly 20,000 farmers have signed the letters, which were collected across the district and transported on a bullock cart during a symbolic protest march from the Rahuri Municipal Council office to the post office.Ahilyanagar's extensive sugar cane belt has long been a preferred habitat for leopards, especially during the harvest season when cubs were frequently discovered in fields. With shrinking forest cover and expanding human activity, leopards often stray into rural localities, heightening the risk of encounters. In the past five months, six people lost their lives to leopard attacks in Ahilyanagar district since October 2025. The series of fatal incidents intensified anxiety within the rural population, prompting widespread calls for stricter measures to control leopard movement near agricultural and residential zones. Forest officials advised villagers to remain alert and avoid working alone, particularly during early morning and evening hours when leopard activity tended to peak.The farmers said their appeal to the Prime Minister represents a collective demand for long-term policy changes, improved monitoring, and scientific strategies to balance wildlife protection with human safety.