Maharashtra: Man-eater leopard shot dead after 3 deaths in Pimparkhed

A man-eater leopard that had terrorized Pimparkhed village and nearby areas in Pune district, Maharashtra, was shot dead following a joint operation by the Forest Department and a rescue team. The big cat was responsible for the deaths of three individuals over the past 20 days, including a 5-year-old girl, an 82-year-old woman, and a 13-year-old boy. These fatal attacks sparked widespread fear and anger among locals across Junnar, Shirur, Ambegaon, and Khed talukas. The situation escalated after the 13-year-old boy's death, leading to violent protests where a mob set fire to a forest patrol vehicle and a local base camp. On the following Monday, villagers blocked the Pune-Nashik highway near Manchar for nearly 18 hours, demanding urgent action to deal with the leopard. The unrest reflected deep frustration with the wildlife authorities’ handling of the situation. Forest officials revealed that Pune Conservator of Forests Ashish Thackeray obtained the necessary approval from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to neutralize the threat. A specialized team, including veterinarian Dr. Satvik Pathak and sharpshooters Jubin Postwala and Dr. Prasad Dabholkar, was dispatched to capture or eliminate the animal. Advanced detection methods, such as camera traps and thermal drones, were employed to track the leopard’s movements. The animal was located approximately 400-500 meters away from the last incident site. During the operation, a tranquillizer dart misfired, provoking the leopard to charge at the team. This forced the sharpshooters to open fire around 10:30 pm, successfully killing the leopard. Officials estimated the animal’s age at about 5-6 years. To address community concerns, the carcass was displayed to the villagers before being transported to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for a thorough post-mortem examination. The entire operation was carried out under the close supervision of senior forest officials and with the cooperation of local villagers. This cooperation was crucial in locating and managing the predator. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by wildlife authorities in balancing human-wildlife conflict, especially in regions where expanding human settlements intersect with natural habitats. It also underscores the urgency for improved monitoring and rapid response systems to prevent such tragic encounters in the future.