Sugar babies: Leopards groomed to live among tractors, not in the wilderness
Leopards in Maharashtra's Junnar region, nicknamed 'Sugar babies,' have adapted to sugarcane fields, viewing human presence as normal. Wildlife managers face a new challenge as traditional mitigation strategies fail, with relocated leopards returning. This generation is field-born, making forest relocation ineffective and raising concerns about increased human-animal conflict.
Leopards in Maharashtra's Junnar region, nicknamed 'Sugar babies,' have adapted to sugarcane fields, viewing human presence as normal. Wildlife managers face a new challenge as traditional mitigation strategies fail, with relocated leopards returning. This generation is field-born, making forest relocation ineffective and raising concerns about increased human-animal conflict.
