Man-Eating Leopard Captured in Shirala Shifted to Pune Wildlife Facility
Pune/Sangli, 6th February 2026: The leopard responsible for the fatal attack on a six-year-old boy in Bior village of Shirala taluka has been safely transported to the state government’s Wildlife Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Pune, forest officials confirmed.
The animal, declared a man-eater after the tragic death of Rajveer Patil, was moved under tight supervision in a specially secured vehicle. The rescue and transport operation was carried out by a forest department team led by Range Forest Officer Ramesh Kamble, Forester Anil Waje, forest guards including Dattatray, Shinde, and Rajnikant Darekar, along with members of the Sahyadri Rescue Warriors organisation, including founder-president Prof. Sushilkumar Gaikwad and Dheeraj Gaikwad. The team reached Pune with the leopard at around 1:30 am.
In the days following the leopard’s capture, several rumours circulated in Shirala taluka suggesting that the animal had been released back into the forests of Chandoli or nearby areas. These claims triggered anxiety among local residents.
Forest officials, however, have firmly denied the speculation, clarifying that the leopard has not been released anywhere and remains under observation at the Pune facility.
The forest department has urged citizens not to believe or spread unverified information. Officials reiterated that all necessary precautions have been taken and that the animal is currently housed at the designated government rehabilitation centre.
