A severe drought across Maharashtra is forcing leopards out of their forest habitats and pushing them into areas inhabited by people, leading to human-animal conflict. According to forest officials leopards are straying out of forests as water bodies dry up and often enter agricultural areas. So far, incidents of leopards straying into inhabited areas have increased in Western Maharashtra, which is facing severe drought this year. "Leopards stray out of forests in search of water every summer, but this year incidents of leopards coming into agriculture areas is becoming common early in the year," says Deputy Conservator of Forests Rajendra Kadam, who is based in Pune. The area around Pune, which comprises the Western Ghats, is the natural home of the leopards. According to Kadam, the area is rich in prey and the animals do not have to come out to hunt for food as they do at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. However, shortage of water is proving to be a major problem, he added. Local villagers in the region have reported several leopard sightings which have caused panic. In Junnar district near Pune which has the highest concentration of the big cat, cases of leopards straying out of the forests have even the government officials worried. "In 2003 more than a 100 leopards were trapped and relocated after a large number of people were killed by the animals," says a district official. The move received wide condemnation from animal rights activists according to whom leopards are territory-conscious. Leopards are known to walk as much as 200 km to return to their natural hunting grounds. Politicians in the area are also worried that the sudden appearance of leopards could cause major problems to people. Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, Member of Parliament from Shirur, told reporters earlier this week that people are reporting leopard sightings more frequently these days. "We need to find a proper solution as at present forest officials simply trap the leopards and release them into the forests. The animals usually stray back into human habitation," Patil said. Forest officials say, leopard sightings have been reported in the cantonment areas of Pune. Man-animal conflict Incidents of leopards straying into inhabited areas have increased in Western Maharashtra, which is facing a severe drought this year Forest officials say leopard sightings have been reported in the cantonment areas of Pune, which is still heavily forested, and areas such as Khed and Ambegaon Groups of villagers have taken matters into their own hands and reports of the animals being killed at the hands of people are also coming in.