After teen killed by leopard in Pune, Maharashtra govt announces slew of measures to address human-leopard conflicts

Nashik Highway open, last rites of teen performed

Officials from Pune Rural Police said that hundreds of villagers who had gathered on the Pune-Nashik Highway at Manchar blocking the road from 10 am on Monday, started dispersing from 2 am on Tuesday. By early morning the traffic flow on Pune Nashik highway was restored. The family members of Rohan and villagers had refused to perform his last rites, till the time their demand for a permanent solution to the human leopard conflict was met. “On Tuesday morning, last rites of Roham Bombe were performed at Pimparkhed village. Later in the afternoon District Collector Jitendra Dudi visited Pimparkhed village and also the spot where the incident had taken place. He briefed the villagers on the various measures announced by the state government.” said a Forest Department officer.

One leopard trapped

Assistant Conservator of Forest Smita Rajhans said, “In the early hours of Tuesday, a leopard was trapped in one of the trap cages. Earlier we had deployed 25 trap cameras, 10 trap cages and multiple drone cameras in the area. 30 more trap cages were installed after that and more will be installed soon. Our teams, wildlife rescue experts and teams of target shooters continue to be deployed in the area. We are closely monitoring the situation.”

When asked whether it could be ascertained that the trapped leopard was the one that attacked Rohan, a Forest Department officer said, “That can not be said with certainty. The trapped leopard is a male and will be shifted to Manikdoh leopard rehabilitation centre.”

After the incident, an order has been issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), the head of Forest Department of Maharashtra, to tranquilise and capture the leopard involved in the attack or the shoot and eliminate the animal if it proves a threat to human life. Four teams of shooters were deployed in the area by Monday evening. When contacted, Chandrakant Mandlik, an Indian Air Force veteran who is leading the team of target shooters said, “Our operation in the area is on. We have studied the terrain and landscape and are coordinating with Forest Department officials.”

Slew of measures announced

Forest Minister Naik said that the number of leopards has increased in the Junnar, Ambegaon, Rajgurunagar, and Shirur areas. To further prevent their movement into human settlements and to avert attacks, both short-term and long-term measures will be implemented immediately. The number of forest department personnel in these areas will be increased on a war footing, he said. With permission from the Central Government, leopards captured from these areas will be relocated to animal rescue centre Vanatara, other states, or any other authorised and suitable locations.

Instructions have also been issued to install electric (solar) fencing around houses and cattle sheds near forest areas, to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to inform citizens about leopard movements, and to ensure daytime electricity supply to agricultural areas. Additionally, 200 trap cages will be urgently purchased using District Planning funds, and an additional Rs 10 crore from the Forest Department’s budget has been sanctioned for the immediate procurement of 1,000 more cages. He added that a proposal for the sterilisation of leopards in the region has been submitted to the Central Government to control their growing population. He further said that a delegation of all-party leaders and forest officials will soon meet the Union Forest Minister to seek early approval for the proposal.

School attendance down

Teachers from areas affected by leopard-human conflict noted that school attendance had reduced due to fear amongst parents. Prasad Gaikwad, President of Pune District Secondary and Higher Secondary School Principals’ Association, said, “In many talukas of the district, especially in the areas of Junnar Shirur taluka, an increase in leopard activity has created an atmosphere of fear among students. Attendance has decreased significantly due to parents’ reluctance to send their children to school. The administration and the forest department must take immediate measures for the safety of students. All stakeholders should come together to ensure that education is not affected by fear.”