Man Battles Leopard to Save Pet Dog in Ratnagiri, Survives with Injuries
Ratnagiri, 18th March 2025: In a dramatic encounter, a 55-year-old man from Tondali Vareli village in Chiplun tehsil fought off a leopard to protect his pet dog. The fierce struggle, which lasted nearly 15 minutes on Sunday morning, left both the man and the wild animal severely injured. While the leopard later succumbed to its wounds, the man is currently receiving medical treatment.
The incident unfolded when Ashish Mahajan, a retired psychologist who had previously worked in Pune, heard frantic barking from his dog and rushed outside. He was shocked to find a leopard preparing to attack the pet. With little space for the animal to retreat, it repeatedly lunged at Mahajan.
Tushar Wagh, a close friend of Mahajan, described the harrowing ordeal. “He had a flashlight and tried to scare the leopard away, but it didn’t back down and attacked him instead. Hearing his cries, his wife quickly threw him a sharp tool, which he used to defend himself, striking the leopard in the neck and chest,” Wagh said.
Mahajan was immediately taken to a private hospital in Derwan village, where doctors have confirmed that he is in stable condition.
Forest officials later arrived at the scene and identified the leopard as a two-year-old female. “The animal had sustained injuries to the chest, legs, and neck,” said Girija Desai-Patil, divisional forest officer of Ratnagiri. The incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Kolhapur (Territorial).
