Leopard Search Intensifies in Pune's Heart
The search for a leopard that wandered into the heart of Pune has escalated after forest department officials discovered fresh pugmarks inside a nullah in Aundh's Sindh Society on Monday evening. This new evidence has prompted authorities to significantly widen their monitoring grid across the drainage channel and the adjoining hill terrain.
Expanded Surveillance and Strategic Trapping
A senior forest department official confirmed to TOI that the operation was expanded in direct response to the fresh evidence. "We found fresh pugmarks in the nullah on Monday evening. Since then, there has been no further trace," the official stated. In a strategic move, the department has installed multiple camera traps inside the nullah itself and along the slopes of the nearby ARAI hills to capture any movement.
The official was quick to clarify that subsequent reports of the leopard being spotted in the Pashan area remain unverified. "That sighting does not have solid evidence. At this stage, only the Sindh society nullah pugmarks are confirmed," he emphasized, urging the public to rely on official updates.
The Nullah: A Perfect Urban Corridor
Forest officials explained why the nullah presents an ideal movement path for the elusive predator. "Some portions of the nullah are open, while other stretches are closed or run underground. It is deep in several places, has vegetation around it and provides walking space inside," a senior official elaborated. This combination of natural cover and structure allows a leopard to pass through easily or conceal itself effectively.
The pugmarks were specifically located in the stretch running alongside Sindh Society, an area surrounded by dense trees. To bolster surveillance, forest teams have placed camera traps at multiple points and have advised the residential society to install CCTV cameras facing the nullah.
The challenge for the search teams lies in the nullah's complex design. "The nullah has two to three exit points — one towards NCL, another leading to a nearby dump yard and a third connecting towards the Bopkhel–DRDO side," an official revealed. These exits link to green patches where wild animal movement has been recorded in the past. Experts say the dense vegetation, low human disturbance, and these branching pathways make the nullah a natural corridor for wildlife navigating urban spaces.
Precautionary Measures and Public Awareness
In a related development, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) administration issued restricted movement guidelines for its campus. This decision was made in view of rumours about a leopard sighting on university grounds. The guidelines advise all students, staff, and residents to:
- Avoid unnecessary movement during early mornings and late evenings.
- Move only in groups during these hours.
- Avoid isolated routes and remain alert.
- Immediately inform forest department or university security if the leopard is spotted.
Emergency contact numbers for both departments have been circulated for a swift response. Furthermore, the university organized an information workshop on Tuesday at the Jaykar Library auditorium to educate people about leopard behaviour and essential safety precautions. The session was conducted by forest department official Krishna Hake and RESQ-CT team member Kiran Rahalkar.
As the search continues, forest teams are reviewing overnight footage from the camera traps. No fresh pugmarks have been found since Monday evening. The initial sighting that triggered this operation occurred on Sunday when the leopard was captured on CCTV footage in the RBI Colony area. Wildlife experts had previously suggested the animal likely traveled along the Mula river from the forested CME-Bopkhel defence land, using slim green corridors that connect directly into the city.
