India, Nov. 20 -- Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil has justified the killing of leopards involved in attacking humans saying that people have the right to defend.

"If a human breaks into your home and attacks you, the law allows you to defend yourself, even if it means killing the intruder. Why should citizens lose that right when the attacker is a wild animal? This is the contradiction people in conflict zones face every day. Their safety is treated as secondary," said veteran ecologist Madhav Gadgil, criticising what he calls India's unscientific and ineffective approach to wildlife conflict. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Gadgil explained the rationale behind seeking hunting permissions and emphasised the need to shift power to...