Leopards Attack in Pune : To ensure the safety of humans from leopards, forest officials in Pune’s Junnar area have implemented various advanced measures, including AI-powered cameras and special neck protection bands. These initiatives come after a troubling rise in leopard-related fatalities, with nine deaths reported in the last year alone. (Leopards Attack in Pune)
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The Junnar area, known for its favorable horticulture conditions due to its proximity to water and its hilly terrain bordering the Konkan region, also offers leopards an ideal habitat. The dense plantations and orchards in the area provide ample cover for these big cats, making it difficult for both locals and authorities to detect them.
Over the past five years, the Junnar forest range has recorded 17 fatalities from leopard attacks, with 2024 seeing the highest number of fatalities at nine. In response, the district administration has declared 233 villages in the Junnar, Khed, Ambegaon, and Shirur tehsils as “highly sensitive” and “potential leopard disaster-prone areas.”
The Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun reports that the Junnar forest division is home to 6 to 7 leopards per 100 square kilometers. Additionally, the increasing cultivation of crops like sugarcane, banana, grapes, and pomegranate, along with rising domestic animal populations, provide easy prey for the leopards. These factors have significantly contributed to the rising human-wildlife conflict.
“The conflict has been escalating for over two decades, and 2024 witnessed the highest fatalities in 24 years,” said Amol Satpute, Deputy Conservator of Forests. “Following demands from local farmers and farm laborers for more effective action, we have introduced a range of measures using cutting-edge technology to address this issue.”
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