PUNE, Nov 30: In all probability, the leopard that has terrorised the residents of Alkapuri in Dehu Road has travelled through the forests of Lonavla-Khandala or Karla and beyond, say forest officials. And it might be among the 10-odd leopard species that reside in these jungles.And quite clearly, the wild beast which has been on the prowl for 10 days has shunned any kind of temptation that a leopard generally finds irresistible.The trap was first laid at the foot of the hill near the residential quarters of the personnel of Controllate of Quality Assurance (Special Vehicles). It has now been placed on the slope of the hill. It includes the goat which is merrily bleating since the last three nights and the raw meat, which may be smelling foul.However, the leopard which roamed freely through the children's playground, overlooking the Pune-Mumbai National Highway, in this residential area and strolled royally through the arterial road of the colony, bordered by flats and bungalows, has not returned since Friday.According to N H N Shaikh, deputy conservator of forest, Wildlife Pune: ``Trapping the animal is going to be a mere chance. The area of its movement is huge, so we will keep monitoring every night and then accordingly shift the trap. If it is not trapped within a few days, we will assume that it has gone back to its habitat''.Imagine, this leopard actually had the gall to cross the Pune-Mumbai National Highway, the busiest trunk route in the country, to finally haunt the CQA (SV) living quarters! But Shaikh is not surprised. Says he: ``Why, sometime back, the leopard had entered the hustle bustle of Vikhroli in Mumbai, so what is Alkapuri compared to that? In all likelihood, the animal has strayed from the Lonavla-Khandala jungles or from Karla and beyond in search of food or while chasing a smaller animal. Since the mountain region is a continuity up to Pune, it must have accidentally landed up at Alkapuri via Durga Tekdi. For this, the beast, in all likelihood has crossed the westerly bypass or the Pune-Mumbai National Highway, in the bargain''.He explains: ``The leopard seems to have ventured out of its habitat due to scarcity of food and depletion of wooded areas in the forests. Also, often while chasing a smaller animal, they come out of their verdant shelter and accidentally get into urbanised areas. As a result, both the animal and the people get scared out of their wits''.This leopard is possibly from the total population of 10 that roams in the Lonavla-Khandala region, but while it lives in perfect harmony with its brethren there, it seems to have suddenly found itself out-of-place here.Warns Shaikh: ``The people in the colony should be told not to unnecessarily get scared. They should not panic if they happen to see the beast. And it is very important that they shut their doors and not stir out of the house, after sunset''.Lt Col Ravinder Singh, deputy controller of CQA , whose house is at the rear end of the colony states: ``Two nights have passed yet there has been no sign of the leopard, so we have shifted the trap towards the slope of the hill, further away from the colony. Let's see what happens''.Until then, forest personnel have been performing the role of night watchmen, from Singh's terrace. But for the residents, till the beast is snared life will continue to be one long nightmare.
