Pune: A leopard has been sighted once again in the Bhadalevasti area of Wagholi, four days after it was initially seen, causing increased alarm among residents.
Early this morning, the leopard reappeared near the Decathlon premises, where it attacked a sheep. Security guards managed to capture footage of the animal on mobile phones, adding to the concerns of locals about the predator’s presence in a densely populated area.
The leopard’s repeated appearances in Wagholi have left the community on edge.
Tracks left by the animal were found in multiple areas, with Forest Department officials, who arrived on the scene shortly after the sighting, confirming the presence of fresh paw prints.
Residents have requested that authorities set up a cage to trap the leopard and prevent further incidents.
Monitoring Efforts and Safety Precautions
The Forest Department has begun taking steps to monitor the leopard’s movements, planning to install cameras to capture footage and track the animal’s path.
“Once the necessary permissions are granted, we will place a cage to trap the leopard,” said Dnyaneshwar Shivale of the Pune Forest Department, urging residents to exercise caution.
Earlier this month, a leopard attacked and killed a calf in Bhalsingh Wasti, Kolwadi, in Haveli taluka. The calf, tied in front of a house, was ambushed by the leopard, which had been lying in wait. The incident, captured on CCTV, has heightened fear among the local population.
The leopard dragged the calf into the nearby fields after the attack. Residents of the Manjari and Kolwadi areas had already reported frequent sightings of leopard footprints, and some had even seen the animal from their vehicles.
