The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved a leopard birth-control programme in Maharashtra to mitigate the rising human–leopard conflict. The decision comes after scientific studies confirmed a sharp increase in the leopard population, especially in areas bordering urban habitats, leading to frequent attacks on humans and livestock. The programme involves surgical sterilization of captured leopards and implementing advanced population management techniques. This proactive measure aims to stabilize the leopard population and significantly reduce negative human-wildlife interactions without resorting to culling.