Deshmukh's demand assumes significance close on the heels of high-profile minister calling up chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan to declare Nagpur the tiger capital of the world.
In a letter written to Ramesh on March 9, Deshmukh has pointed out that man-wildlife conflict was assuming dangerous proportions in the state. Often the 'culprit' was a leopard that gets promptly trapped by the foresters, especially when a human being was attacked, he stated.
"I suggest creation of a 'leopard safari' near Nagpur. The idea is to fence off a huge area inside which leopards would move freely and visitors could move in a cage van. Gorewada spread over 1,800 hectare area ideal for it," Deshmukh told TOI. He added that 700 hectare vacant forest land adjoining Ambazari lake could also be considered for the purpose. Read the full report here.
Source: Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Nagpur.
