‘AI-generated images causing fear’: Search continues after leopard sighting in Aundh, officials say no further activity detected

Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune, said, “An increasing number of AI-generated leopard images circulated in housing groups and on social media are creating unnecessary fear and, more importantly, delaying real response efforts because teams must first verify whether an incident is genuine. Responsible reporting is critical.”

“The Forest Department relies on accurate information from the public, and while it is our duty to respond, it is equally the responsibility of every Pune citizen to avoid sharing unverified or fabricated content,” Mohite said.

On the latest incident, officials said that after the first confirmed sighting of the leopard at 4 am on Sunday, no subsequent sightings have been reported in Aundh, including pugmarks, camera or drone detection, or even thermal detection. Teams of Forest Department staff and wildlife rescue experts, however, continue to remain deployed in the area.

“There have been no further sightings of the leopard around RBI Colony or Sindh Society. It is also likely that the animal has moved away from the area. The Forest Department and RESQ Charitable Trust teams remain on continuous alert, prepared to respond swiftly to any genuine incident,” said Mohite.

“Through the night, all Forest Department staff and the RESQ team conducted a search operation in various suspected areas using thermal drones, as well as on foot and in vehicles. However, the leopard has not yet been captured on any camera, nor have its pugmarks been found. In short, after 4 am on Sunday, there has been no sighting of the leopard anywhere, either by eyewitnesses or through any evidence,” Mohite said

Curated For You

Dhurandhar Box Office Collection Day 18 Update: Ranveer Singh film eyes Rs 600 crore club in India

Kerala SIR 2026 Voter List: How to Check Your name online, step-by-step guide

3 Bengaluru metro stretches spanning 41.01 km to be operational in 2026