In a bewildering turn of events on Wednesday, the third day of Maharashtra’s winter session in Nagpur, MLA Sharad Sonawane made a dramatic entrance into the assembly clad entirely in a leopard costume and mask. His unexpected appearance left some members stunned, while others were visibly amused. The chaos escalated when some MLAs shouted, “Remove the leopard!”
In a bold move aimed at highlighting the growing human-leopard conflict in Maharashtra, MLA Sharad Sonawane’s stunt came just hours after a leopard attacked seven people in Nagpur's Pardi area.
Sonawane described the situation as a "statewide emergency," pointing to the alarming statistic of 55 human fatalities due to leopard attacks in his region alone over the past three months. The incident underscores the urgent need for addressing the escalating wildlife-human conflict in the state.
On Wednesday morning, a leopard attacked seven individuals in Maharashtra's Pardi, a densely populated area, marking the second occurrence of such an incident within a month. All seven victims are receiving medical care at two separate hospitals, and their conditions are reportedly stable.
The Sena MLA entered the House, leading Speaker Rahul Patil to give a firm warning. The Speaker instructed Sonawane to alter his clothing and uphold decorum. Previously, Sonawane contended that leopards should be reclassified to Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act to allow for immediate capture in cases of imminent threat.
He condemned the forest department's experimental initiatives since 2014, labeling them as ineffective."Officials sit in air-conditioned cabins. It's not their fear. It's our fear," he said.