Leopard Creates Panic in Nagpur Neighborhood
Residents of Bhandewadi in Nagpur witnessed a scene straight from a wildlife documentary on Wednesday when a leopard abandoned its forest habitat and slipped into their densely populated urban neighborhood. The big cat took refuge in a G+2 residential and commercial building near the Bhandewadi ROB, sending shockwaves through the community.
The dramatic encounter began unfolding before dawn, with several locals reporting unusually frantic barking from street dogs between 3:30 AM and 4:00 AM. However, none suspected the real reason until hours later when the leopard was finally discovered.
Teenager's Chilling Discovery
The tense situation came to light around 9:00 AM when 16-year-old Alok Raut went upstairs to collect clothes and made a heart-stopping discovery. At the staircase landing between the first and second floors, he noticed a spotted tail protruding from behind a loosely placed wooden door.
"At first I didn't understand what it was," Alok recalled. "But when I saw the distinct spots, I immediately realized it was a leopard. I ran downstairs and informed my father."
His father, Anil Raut, who operates a pharmacy on the ground floor and lives with his family on the first floor, initially struggled to believe his son's claim. He asked Alok to verify what he had seen.
"Since the leopard wasn't moving, I threw my chappal at the door to be absolutely sure," Alok described the tense moment. "The tail instantly curled inward, and that's when I knew without doubt that it was real."
After this confirmation, Anil personally checked the area and verified the presence of the wild animal. He quickly recorded several videos as evidence and alerted the local police, who responded within minutes.
Dramatic Rescue Operation
As news about the leopard sheltering inside the building spread rapidly, a crowd gathered outside the structure. The forest department's rescue team soon arrived at the location and initiated a high-risk operation to secure the animal.
Officials from the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) received the distress call at 10:20 AM. A specialized team including Dr. Rajesh Phulsunge, veterinary assistant Siddhant More, Pravin Mankar, forest guard Pratik Ghate, RV Devatale, Bandu Manger, Chetan Barskar, and Vilas Manger immediately rushed to the scene.
The rescue team traced the leopard to a small toilet area on the second floor of the under-construction building. Dr. Phulsunge carefully fired a tranquilizing dart through the narrow entry point. After the animal lost consciousness, the team meticulously lifted it, carried it down the staircase, placed it safely inside a metal cage, and transported it to the TTC for thorough examination and treatment.
Forest department officials confirmed that the leopard is approximately 3-4 years old and appeared to be uninjured. They planned to release the animal back into the wild later the same night.
Growing Human-Wildlife Conflict in Maharashtra
This incident occurs during a particularly tense period across Maharashtra, where leopards have been making frequent headlines in regions including Nashik, Pune, and Kolhapur. The state has witnessed increasing leopard sightings, attacks on people, and growing public concern about human-wildlife conflicts.
The surge in these encounters has already sparked protests in various communities and prompted the state government to implement stronger mitigation policies. Even in Nagpur specifically, multiple leopard sightings during October had previously created alarm in the MIHAN area.
Local residents theorized that the leopard might have entered the partially occupied building around 4:00 AM and likely remained motionless due to fear, exhaustion, or possible injury. Shrikant Mendhale, a resident, connected the dots between the early morning commotion and the leopard's presence.
"We heard dogs barking wildly before dawn," Mendhale stated. "We wondered what was happening but eventually went back to sleep because of the cold weather."
Officials suggested that the animal might have strayed from the Bhandewadi garbage dump yard while searching for prey, eventually finding its way into the human settlement. The successful rescue operation prevented what could have become a tragic incident, highlighting the importance of prompt response and professional wildlife management in urban areas.
