Research overview: the Junnar leopard attack surge and management lessons

This overview reviews the well-documented spike in leopard attacks on people in the Junnar region of Maharashtra in the early 2000s, which followed intensive capture-and-translocation of leopards into and out of the area. It synthesises analyses linking the surge to the disruptive effects of moving large numbers of leopards, the resulting territorial instability, and the placement of stressed animals near unprepared communities. The literature draws management lessons: avoid reflexive translocation, invest in conflict-response teams, secure garbage and livestock, and educate residents. The survey treats Junnar as a pivotal case that reshaped Indian leopard-management policy away from large-scale relocation.