A weekend of wildlife conflict unfolded in Nashik, with two separate incidents involving leopards causing alarm. In the first, a young man was injured in an attack, while in a tragic second event, a leopard cub lost its life on the railway tracks.
Motorist Injured in Sudden Leopard Attack
A 20-year-old youth sustained injuries after a leopard swiped at him while he was riding pillion on a motorcycle near Lahavit village, on the outskirts of Nashik city. The frightening incident occurred around 9:30 PM on Saturday night.
The animal reportedly pounced on the youth unexpectedly. Following the attack, the injured individual was promptly taken to the Nashik Municipal Corporation's Bytco Hospital for treatment. Medical sources confirmed that his condition was stable, and after receiving necessary medication, he was discharged on Sunday morning.
As a precautionary measure to prevent further encounters, officials from the forest department have placed cages at various locations around the area where the attack happened. This is a standard procedure to attempt to trap the animal involved.
Tragic End for Young Leopard on Railway Tracks
In an unrelated but equally distressing event, rail traffic on the Mumbai-bound track near Bhagur, close to Deolali station, came to a halt early Sunday morning. The disruption began around 7 AM after railway personnel discovered a grievously injured leopard on the line.
Authorities immediately stopped train movement temporarily and alerted the forest department. Officials from the Nashik West division identified the animal as a female leopard, aged approximately 7-8 months. It is believed the young leopard was struck by a passing train.
The injuries sustained were severe. The animal suffered critical head wounds and lost one leg completely. A wildlife rescue team from the Nashik forest division rushed to the spot, carefully moved the leopard off the tracks to restore rail operations, and provided primary treatment on-site.
Rescue Efforts and Aftermath
Despite the swift response and initial care administered by the wildlife veterinary team, the leopard succumbed to its injuries due to heavy blood loss. The animal was later shifted to the wildlife treatment centre at Mhasrul for advanced care, but it did not survive.
Forest officials have confirmed that all necessary formalities are being completed and further action is underway following the tragic incident. These back-to-back events highlight the ongoing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the fringes of urban areas like Nashik.
