Pune: Special Drive Launched by Junnar Forest Department to Mitigate Human-Leopard Conflict

Demand for trap cages from over 75% of villages in Shirur, Ambegaon, Junnar and Manchar areas far exceeds the department’s current inventory of 113 cages.

10 May 2024

By Payoshi Bisht

In response to the escalating incidents of leopard attacks, particularly in the villages surrounding the Yedgaon dam watershed area, the Junnar forest department has initiated a specialised operation aimed at capturing leopards in the region. This month-long endeavour comes in the wake of mounting concerns over human safety and demands from villagers for immediate action.

A senior forest officer from the Junnar forest department revealed that permission for the drive has been secured from the committee appointed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The department has identified 30 hotspots frequented by leopards in the area, where at least five to six attacks on humans have occurred in the past two months alone.

The urgency of the situation was underscored by a recent tragic incident on 8th May, where an eight-year-old boy fell victim to a leopard attack in Kalwadi village. 

In the interim, the Junnar forest department has devised a short-term solution involving the capture of leopards from the Yedgaon dam watershed area where the department has identified 28 hotspots and installed 30 trap cages in strategic locations.

Amit Bhise, ACF of the Junnar forest division, emphasised the program’s objective of mitigation of the human-leopard conflict. Once captured, leopards will undergo medical tests to assess their health and behavioural patterns, determining whether they pose a danger. Those deemed suitable for release will be reintroduced into the wild, possibly in alternate areas, while any problematic cases will undergo lifetime captivity. The demand for cages has surged over the past few weeks due to the increasing number of leopard attacks.