Pune Leopard Sighting Puts Aundh Locality on High Alert
Residents living near Rajnigandha Society in Aundh, Pune, are maintaining a state of heightened alertness almost a week after a leopard was first spotted in their neighborhood on November 23. While the initial wave of panic has subsided, a palpable sense of caution persists as community coordination and security measures have been significantly ramped up.
Community Response and Enhanced Security Measures
In the days following the sighting, residential societies issued strict advisories, intensified CCTV surveillance, and specifically alerted pet owners to avoid early morning and late-night walks. Society committees have been actively circulating messages, urging members to report any suspicious movements without delay.
A manager from an Aundh society, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed the ongoing vigilance. "We have sent instructions to all members to be cautious while moving around the premises. There are a few dense patches in our society, so we are on our toes," he said, adding that CCTV cameras are being monitored round the clock and security staff have been trained for a rapid response.
Life Slowly Returns to Normal with Lingering Fear
Many residents, who initially avoided stepping out on foot, told TOI on Friday that daily life is gradually returning to a routine, albeit with an underlying wariness. Sneha Rajole, a software developer from Krishna Kunj Society, shared her family's anxiety, particularly concerning their pet dog. "After the Sunday night news of the leopard, residents were very tense. But with no further updates from forest officials, things slowly returned to routine. Now, we are more relaxed," she stated.
The experience has been described as both unsettling and educative, prompting better community coordination. Sugandha Mitra, a resident of Daffodil in Aundh, admitted to skipping her regular 6 am walk initially but has since resumed with greater caution. Another resident, Mayank Kelkar, noted, "Though things look normal now, every unusual sound at night still makes people pause. The fear may have reduced, but awareness has increased."
Official Assurance and Continuous Monitoring
Forest department officials have maintained constant communication with society committees, sharing emergency helpline numbers and assuring them of a swift reaction. Shriram Date, an Aundh resident, revealed, "Forest officials shared helpline numbers with us... They told us their team would reach within seven minutes of a call."
Despite these efforts, search teams have found no trace of the predator in recent days. A frontline forest guard associated with the monitoring team confirmed, "We have not received any movement signals from the area after the initial sighting, but we are patrolling continuously." With no new signals from live cameras or camera traps as of Friday, the forest department's strategy and field setup will continue as planned.
