India, Nov. 19 -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed officials to declare leopard attacks on humans as a "state disaster" and to urge the Centre to move leopards from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which would give authorities more flexibility in dealing with man-eating animals.

According to a press note, Fadnavis issued these instructions during a meeting held at Mantralaya with state officials to address the increasing incidents of leopard attacks in districts such as Pune and Ahilyanagar.

Leopards are currently protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, which imposes strict limits on capturing or killing them. Fadnavis asked the forest department to subm...