Several efforts are underway to combat leopard attacks in Pune.

Maharashtra: Taking a cue from the Sundarbans, where people—mostly farmers, fishermen, and honey collectors—wear face masks behind their heads to avoid Bengal tiger attacks, the residents of Pimperkhed village in the Shirur tehsil of Pune district have adopted a similar method to ward off leopards. Following this, the villagers of Pimperkhed are now wearing spiked collars around their necks to prevent leopard attacks.

In the past few months, leopard attacks have been reported in areas of Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Nashik districts.

These attacks have been reported near villages and agricultural fields, especially sugarcane fields—as these provide leopards with good hiding and camouflage.

In fact, a discussion on human-leopard conflict was held in Mumbai, during which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that the issue be treated as a “state emergency” and measures be taken to address the situation.

Additionally, a proposal should be prepared and submitted to remove leopards from Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act and include them in Schedule 2.

Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Milind Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary (Relief and Rehabilitation) Vinita Vaid Singhal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) M. Srinivas Rao, and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Srinivas Reddy were present.

Trap cages have been installed at several locations, and a leopard, believed to be a man-eater, has been shot. Permission to sterilize the leopards has been obtained from the central government.

The villagers of Pimperkhed are wearing these spiked collars like belts around their necks. They say they’ve adopted this method because leopards primarily target the neck.

Local resident Vitthal Jadhav said, “We have to protect ourselves. That’s why we wear these… Farming is our only source of income. We can’t stay home for fear of leopard attacks… We see a leopard every day.”