Translocation as a tool for mitigating conflict with leopards in human-dominated landscapes

Athreya and colleagues analysed the outcomes of capturing leopards from conflict situations and releasing them elsewhere in Maharashtra, a common management response in India. Using records of leopard attacks on people before and after a period of intensive translocation around Junnar, they found that translocation was associated with an increase in serious attacks on humans, both at release sites and at capture areas. They argued translocation stresses and disorients leopards, can move problem behaviour into naive communities, and disrupts resident territorial structure. The study provided influential evidence that translocation often worsens rather than resolves leopard conflict, shifting policy toward in-situ management.