An unusual spell of cold weather and dense fog this winter is being cited as a contributing factor behind a recent increase in leopard sightings across various parts of Pune. However, wildlife specialists caution that this phenomenon is not driven by climate alone but by a complex mix of ecological and human factors.
Why Winter Conditions Aid Leopard Movement
Experts explain that the current winter conditions create a unique environment that can facilitate leopard activity closer to human settlements. Neha Panchamiya, founder and president of RESQ Charitable Trust (RESQCT), stated that longer nights and recurring fog provide these big cats with favourable conditions for movement. The reduced visibility lowers their risk of detection, allowing them to travel greater distances.
"Seasonal activities like sugarcane harvesting on Pune's outskirts often remove dense cover," Panchamiya pointed out. This disturbance prompts leopards to move through more open or unfamiliar terrain, making them more visible to residents. She emphasised that many sightings reflect routine behaviour in zones where human and wildlife habitats overlap.
A Multitude of Factors at Play
Krishna Tiwari, a leopard researcher associated with National Geographic, listed several simultaneous influences. These include a growing leopard population, easy prey availability in urban fringes, and increased awareness due to widespread CCTV coverage. "Also, extreme winter could be one of the main factors," Tiwari said.
He elaborated that harsh conditions affect prey behaviour too. "This winter has been particularly cold, and during such conditions the natural prey base also moves less. When prey availability in forests reduces, leopards may venture closer to human habitations in search of food," Tiwari explained.
An expert from the Wildlife Institute of India echoed this, noting that fog can lead to "overstepping," where animals temporarily range beyond their usual zones. Cooler temperatures also reduce heat stress, making it easier for leopards to cover longer distances compared to the summer months.
Pune's Sugarcane Belt: A Seasonal Hotspot
The peripheral areas of Pune, especially those dominated by sugarcane fields which are known to support a relatively high leopard population, are particularly susceptible to these seasonal movements. Experts underline that winter conditions tend to increase the likelihood of leopards entering fringe urban zones where they already exist nearby, rather than drawing them from distant forests.
Clarification on Nanded Bear Attack
In a related development, the forest department clarified on Wednesday that an attack on a woman in Mahur taluka of Nanded district was carried out by a sloth bear, not a leopard as initially claimed by some villagers.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the Bamanguda area when 35-year-old Latu Suresh Todsam was working in a cotton field. Honorary wildlife warden for Nanded Atindra Katti said the wound patterns, especially on the victim's face, were characteristic of a sloth bear's defensive use of its long, sharp claws.
An official suggested that some villagers might have claimed it was a leopard attack to secure compensation faster. The woman received treatment at hospitals in Sindkheda, Mahur, and Yavatmal. The sloth bear is a Schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it the highest level of protection.
