Residents of Pune's Keshavnagar and Kumbharwada areas faced renewed anxiety as a leopard was sighted for the second time in less than 24 hours. The latest incident occurred early Friday morning, barely 500 meters from where the big cat was seen on Thursday, keeping forest and police teams on high alert.
CCTV Footage Confirms Early Morning Sighting
The leopard was captured on a closed-circuit television camera around 4:55 am on Friday near a private Aadhaar centre in Kumbharwada. The location is close to a Shiva temple in the area known for its pottery units. Following the CCTV alert, teams from the forest department and local police were immediately notified and rushed to the spot.
Officials conducted a thorough ground inspection and verified the footage. A forest department official confirmed the sighting was genuine, stating they found pugmarks and other signs indicating the animal's presence. "We checked the footage and the information is accurate. This is not fake," the official told the media.
Why the Area Attracts Leopards
The official explained several factors that make Kumbharwada and adjoining Keshavnagar an attractive zone for leopards. The area has significant cattle activity, with cows and buffaloes kept close to residential houses. Additionally, garbage accumulation in the vicinity provides a potential food source, drawing the predators closer to human habitation.
Crucially, the Mula-Mutha river channel flows barely 5-10 meters away from the sighting location. This riverbed acts as a natural movement corridor for wildlife, allowing animals to travel undetected. The official also pointed to a large open and forested patch nearby, which offers cover. The leopard could have entered from the Manjari agricultural side, where its presence is previously known.
Forest Department's Response and Monitoring
In response to the repeated sightings, the forest department has initiated monitoring measures. Two trap cameras have been installed at different locations along the riverside and an open area near Mundhwa, where CCTV coverage is limited. However, trap cameras were not placed at the exact spot of the Friday sighting because multiple private CCTV cameras are already operational there.
Sudhir Srivastav, director of the Keshavnagar Welfare Associations (KENWA), was present with the forest rescue team. He highlighted the geography of the area, noting that while one side has large housing complexes, the other retains extensive open land and forest patches with low human presence. "The leopard does not remain in one place. It keeps moving through these corridors, especially along the river," Srivastav said.
The sequence of events suggests the leopard entered from the riverside, briefly chased community dogs, and then retreated in the same direction. Authorities continue to urge residents to remain cautious, especially during early morning and late evening hours, as the search and monitoring operation continues.
