Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 18(ANI): Residents of Sahara City in Indore slept soundly on Wednesday after the forest department successfully captured a five- to six-year-old male leopard that
had been frequently sighted in the residential area for several days near the Devguradia forest area. Officials confirmed that the leopard’s presence set the trap, and, after meticulous monitoring in the residential area, captured it by installing a cage. Villagers told the officials that the leopard had been hunting local dogs and had not shown aggression toward any humans. Indore DFO Pradeep Mishra said that, with the growing frequency of man-animal encounters in Madhya Pradesh, the state has earned a reputation as a “leopard state,” and to manage these interactions, regular surveillance using thermal drones and patrolling in the Sahara City area will continue to ensure public safety. Currently, the rescued animal has undergone a medical examination and was found to be in good health. Officials are preparing to release the animal back into a deep forest area, well away from human settlements. Earlier on November 24, Panic and concern spread across residents of Aundh in Pune after a fully grown leopard was sighted inside the premises of Sindh Society. The animal, captured on CCTV footage around 4 a.m., triggered an immediate response from the Forest Department, Pune Police, and the wildlife rescue NGO RESQ, who jointly launched a large-scale search operation in the locality. Authorities deployed thermal drones, tracking devices, and experienced field personnel to scan the residential complex and surrounding green patches, but the leopard has yet to be traced. The incident came amid a spate of leopard sightings and encounters in Pune’s outskirts in recent months. Another leopard was also spotted in Manjri, a rapidly developing industrial and residential hub on the city’s eastern side. Manjri is closer to forested buffer zones, where leopard activity has been more frequent. In response to increasing wildlife movement, particularly in Manjri Wadi village and surrounding areas, the Forest Department has recently installed AI-enabled surveillance systems to reduce human-wildlife conflict. (ANI)
