Urban Jungle: Around 25 Leopards Roaming within Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad limits!

As per reports from various neighborhoods in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the Pune forest department estimates the presence of approximately 25 leopards in and around human settlements in both cities. 

Although an official survey hasn’t been conducted, the Pune forest division, led by Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, has heightened vigilance in both urban areas.

On Thursday, a young leopard was rescued from the Chikhali area in Chinchwad which is densely populated by humans.

Most of these leopards are new-age leopards and are habituated to feeding themselves on domesticated/stray animals found in and around human settlements.

Relocating them to forests is not an option as they may not be able to survive. In forests, the leopard survival rate is low as there are many other natural predators and constant fights erupt for survival, said Mohite.

Leopards have a significant presence in the city areas. Both the Indrayani and Mula-Mutha rivers as well as large water bodies are among the hotspots where leopards can be seen as these water bodies and the vegetation around them provide safe passage to the leopards to roam around, he added.