Mumbai: Amid rising man-animal conflicts, state forest minister Ganesh Naik told the assembly on Thursday that the cabinet has approved a proposal to move leopards in the state from Schedule 1 to Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.Schedule I of the Act gives maximum protection to animals. Schedule II does not allow hunting and trade, but it allows killing of the animal if it poses a threat to life.“We will send our proposal to the Centre for changes in the Central Wildlife Protection Act for the state,” said Naik.Naik was responding to questions raised by MLA Satyajeet Deshmukh regarding the rise in leopard attacks on villagers in his constituency, Shirala. Deshmukh highlighted the increasing presence of leopards in his constituency and demanded their inclusion in Schedule 2. He also questioned the govt on the specific measures being implemented to curb the man-animal conflicts.
