A tragic leopard attack claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy in Pune district on Monday morning, marking the fourth human fatality in the region in just over two months. The incident has reignited fears and anger among local communities over the escalating human-wildlife conflict.
The Fatal Attack in Pargaon Village
The victim, identified as Rohit Babu Kapre, was playing in a field in Pargaon village, Junnar tehsil, while his parents were working on a nearby onion farm. According to forest officials, a leopard suddenly emerged from a sugar cane farm, attacked the child, and dragged him into a nearby field.
Rohit's father, Babu, recounted the horrifying moment. "On hearing his screams, we ran towards the field and chased the animal into a sugar cane field. We found Rohit in the field with marks of several injuries around his neck. He was dead by then," he said. The family had moved to Junnar from Roha tehsil in Raigad district just three months ago in search of work.
Expressing his grief and regret, Babu stated, "I had come to Junnar in search of work in farms. I had no idea that leopard attacks were frequent in this area. It was a mistake to bring my family to Junnar."
Forest Department's Response and Growing Crisis
The Junnar forest division has been grappling with a severe spike in leopard conflicts. Assistant Conservator of Forest Smita Rajhans revealed that officials have captured 25 leopards in the past six weeks from Pimparkhed and surrounding villages. She suggested that a new leopard may have established territory in the area, leading to aggressive behavior due to difficulty finding food and water.
Following a spot visit, officials found pugmarks of a male leopard. "We activated trap cameras and placed 12 trap cages at vantage locations in the village to capture the animal," Rajhans added. In a significant move, a senior official confirmed that the department is seeking permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest in Nagpur to kill the problematic leopard.
The location of the latest attack is particularly concerning. Pargaon is situated just 6km from Pimparkhed village in Shirur tehsil, where three people, including two children, were killed in leopard attacks since October.
Villagers' Anger and Hollow Promises
Monday's incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who accuse authorities of failing to protect them. Villagers blame the Junnar forest division and local politicians for making "hollow promises" after the previous fatalities.
"Apart from capturing some leopards from the villages, the authorities have not done anything substantial. Leopard sightings and attacks continue to be frequent," said Kiran Gajare, a resident of nearby Jambut village. This sentiment reflects a deep-seated frustration over what is perceived as an inadequate official response to a life-threatening crisis.
The repeated tragedies in the Junnar forest division underscore a critical and urgent need for a more effective, long-term strategy to manage human-leopard coexistence, ensuring both community safety and wildlife conservation.
