PUNE: A man-eater leopard that had killed three people in Pune district’s Pimparkhed village and nearby areas over the past 20 days was shot dead late Monday night in a joint operation by the Forest Department and a rescue team, officials confirmed.
The predator had claimed the lives of a 5-year-old girl, an 82-year-old woman, and a 13-year-old boy in separate attacks since October 12, triggering panic and outrage across the Junnar, Shirur, Ambegaon, and Khed talukas.
Following the boy’s death last week, angry villagers set fire to a forest patrol vehicle and a local base camp. Protests intensified on Monday as residents blocked the Pune–Nashik highway near Manchar for nearly 18 hours, demanding the leopard be captured or killed.
Forest officials said Pune Conservator of Forests Ashish Thackeray obtained approval from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to neutralise the animal. A special team led by veterinarian Dr. Satvik Pathak and sharpshooters Jubin Postwala and Dr. Prasad Dabholkar was then deployed to carry out the operation.
“Camera traps and thermal drones were used to track the leopard. It was spotted about 400–500 metres from the last attack site. A tranquilliser dart was fired but misfired, after which the leopard charged at the team. The sharpshooters opened fire around 10:30 pm, killing it on the spot,” an official said. The leopard, estimated to be 5–6 years old, was later retrieved.
The carcass was shown to local villagers before being transported to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for post-mortem examination.
Officials said the operation was carried out with the assistance of local residents and under the supervision of senior forest officers. Authorities have appealed for calm as normalcy gradually returns to the affected villages.
