Pune: A three-year-old leopard was rescued by a team of forest department and RESQ Charitable Trust around 9am on Friday after it injured six people near the Pavana camping site at Ambegaon in Maval tehsil.
The forest officials later registered a case against the villagers for trying to catch the leopard using a net and causing injury to the animal.
The leopard was initially spotted resting atop a tree when approximately 100 villagers gathered below with their dogs, creating a commotion. Panicked by the crowd, the leopard descended and attacked several dogs and their owners who attempted to intervene.
The situation escalated when the villagers tried to capture the leopard with ropes and nets, resulting in injuries to six people, including Gyaneshwar Tripathi Rajiwade, Bhaktishwar Rajiwade, Pravin Rajiwade, Balu Shinde, and Gafur Sheikh. The villagers restrained the leopard with ropes, which restricted its blood flow.
Upon arrival, the forest department and RESQ team safely transferred the leopard to a transport cage. The animal was then taken to the wildlife transit treatment centre in Bavdhan, where it received anti-shock treatment and medical care for minor injuries.
Neha Panchamiya, founder and president of RESQ Charitable Trust, said: “The leopard is stable and under observation at the Wildlife Transit Centre. She has minor injuries but no critical health concerns. She will be rehabilitated and released soon.”
The forest department has registered a case against the villagers under section 9, 39 and 5 (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. As leopard is a Schedule I protected animal, it is an offence for any person to interfere with the animal’s movement, harass or attempt to apprehend without official permission. The rescue team stated that the leopard had not initially intended to attack anyone, but reacted defensively due to the crowd’s behavior.
The incident caused panic around the camping site, which is a popular destination for tourists from Pune, Mumbai and surrounding areas who stay in tents overnight around Pavana lake. Forest officials criticized residents for taking photos and videos, instead of maintaining a safe distance. They said such actions could lead to legal consequences.
Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests, Pune division, said in an advisory: “The public must refrain from attempting to capture wildlife without proper training and equipment. In such situations, immediate reporting to the Forest Department or trained rescue teams is crucial to ensure safety for both people and animals.”
The forest department is providing compensation to the injured individuals while investigating those responsible for instigating the illegal capture attempt. “The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining proper protocol when encountering wildlife and the need for public awareness about protected species and appropriate response measures,” an official said.
“Once the injured animal is out, we will identify the people who instigated the illegal capture and name them as accused,” said assistant conservator of forests (Pune forest department) Mangesh Tatte Patil.
