Pune: Leopard Attack Claims Life of 4-Year-Old Girl in Shirur
Pune: Leopard Attack Claims Life of 4-Year-Old Girl in Shirur
A devastating leopard attack occurred on Tuesday evening in Pimpalsuti village, Shirur taluka, claiming the life of 4-year-old Raksha Vijay Nikam. This tragic incident marks the third human casualty in leopard attacks in Shirur over the last two months.
Raksha was playing in the courtyard around 7 pm when the leopard, hiding nearby, pounced on her and dragged her into the sugar cane field. Despite her parents’ frantic efforts to rescue her, Raksha’s body was found two hours later in a mutilated state.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict in the region. Pune district has registered 10 deaths and one suspected death in leopard attacks since April this year. Six of the deaths occurred in Junnar, while three were reported from Shirur and two in Daund taluka, all in Pune district.
Assistant Conservator of Forests Smita Rajhans stated to the mediaperson that the wildlife department is working to set up cages and trap cameras to catch the leopard. The department is also conducting drone surveillance with the help of the Wildlife Institute of India and Wildlife SOS.
Shirur MP Amol Kolhe urged the central government to take immediate action, citing the need for leopard sterilization. Maharashtra Chief Wildlife Warden Vivek Khandekar emphasized the importance of long-term measures to keep leopards within the carrying capacity of land.
The Junnar forest department has appealed to villagers to install solar fences around farms and houses, ensuring adequate lighting to prevent such incidents. The community is in a state of panic, and the authorities are working to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The tragic loss of Raksha’s life has highlighted the need for urgent measures to address the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region.
