Authorities in Pune are implementing urgent safety measures, including installing cages and using sirens, to protect thousands of visitors attending the 208th-anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima on January 1. This comes in response to a sharp rise in human-leopard conflicts in the surrounding Shirur region, which has claimed at least three lives, including two children, in the last three months.
Rising Conflict Spurs Pre-Event Action
The commemorative event at the 'Jaystambh' monument in Perne village draws lakhs of Ambedkarites annually. The site, located near the Bhima river and surrounded by sugarcane farms, lies within the Shirur taluka of Pune district—a zone experiencing increased leopard activity. Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that the forest department will conduct a pre-event survey and install cages at strategic locations. "Additionally, teams from the forest department would be deployed in the area," Dudi stated, seeking to reassure the public. He noted that nearly 40 leopards have been captured from the Shirur forest range in recent months.
Multi-Pronged Strategy to Deter Big Cats
Beyond cages, officials plan a series of proactive measures. Gajanan Patil, Chief Executive Officer of Pune Zilla Parishad, mentioned that measures such as blowing sirens would be undertaken to prevent leopards from venturing near the event area. Smita Rajhans, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), outlined the awareness drive, stating that extensive patrolling would be conducted, even at night. "We will make people aware about the do's and dont's such as not sleeping in open spaces, avoid moving alone in riverside areas and sugarcane farms," Rajhans said. The forest department plans to collaborate with local gram panchayats for this outreach.
The leopard threat was a key agenda item during a high-level review meeting at the Jaystambh on Friday. The meeting was attended by Harshdeep Kamble, Principal Secretary of the Social Justice Department, along with senior police officials and Ambedkarite activists. The preparations are being closely monitored, given the sensitive nature of the event, which witnessed violence during the 200th-anniversary commemoration in 2018.
Recent Incidents Heighten Concerns
The urgency of the measures is underscored by recent leopard sightings in urban fringes. This month, a leopard was spotted twice in the Mundhwa suburb of Pune city. Furthermore, a leopard that was seen multiple times at the Pune International Airport was captured on December 12 after an intensive eight-hour operation. With many visitors traveling through the Shirur area late into the night of December 31, authorities are leaving nothing to chance, integrating wildlife management into the broader security and logistical plan for the massive gathering.
