AI, Drone Surveys to Track Leopards as Pune District Plans Permanent Measures Against Rising Attacks
Pune, 12th November 2025: Amid a sharp rise in human-leopard conflict across Pune district, authorities have decided to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based monitoring systems and conduct drone surveys in leopard-prone areas to track and prevent attacks. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by District Collector Jitendra Dudi on Tuesday.
As part of the plan, an AI-driven surveillance network, solar-powered night drones, camera traps, and sound alert systems will be implemented in sensitive zones. The Forest Department will also conduct drone surveys to record the number of leopards in villages across Shirur, Ambegaon, and adjoining talukas.
So far, 17 leopards have been captured in Shirur and Ambegaon talukas and relocated to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar. A district-level 24-hour control room has also been established to respond to leopard sightings and attacks. Citizens can contact the control room on the toll-free number 1800-3033.
During the meeting, Junnar Division Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Prashant Khade, Pune Division DCF Mahadev Mohite, and senior forest and wildlife officials reviewed recent incidents and ongoing containment efforts. Officials informed that the Junnar Forest Department currently has 262 cages, and work is underway to manufacture more.
“An additional 700 cages will be procured immediately from other districts or states. Suppliers and organizations capable of providing cages at short notice will be contacted. These will be installed in villages identified as potential leopard-prone areas,” said District Collector Dudi.
To ensure community participation, it was decided to conduct special gram sabhas to create awareness about safety measures and ongoing action. A joint monitoring committee will be formed in each village, comprising local residents, experienced wildlife volunteers, NGOs, and forest officials. These committees will coordinate with authorities to conduct drone surveys and report leopard sightings.
Dudi also directed officials to increase night patrols in villages and prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to manage leopard encounters and attacks more effectively.
Meanwhile, the overcrowded Manikdoh Leopard Centre — which has a capacity of 50 but currently houses 67 leopards — will be supplemented with new habitation centres. Plans are underway to set up two additional facilities: one under the Junnar Forest Department with a capacity for 1,000 leopards, and another under the Pune Forest Department that can accommodate 500 leopards.
Officials said that these long-term measures aim to balance conservation efforts with public safety as leopard sightings continue to rise in the fringes of Pune district.
