Pune: After Junnar And Ambegaon, Leopards Now Increasing In Shirur Taluka
Pune, 13th September 2022: In the past, leopards were mainly seen in Junnar and Ambegaon talukas of the Pune district. However, in the last few years, a large number of leopards have been seen in Shirur taluka. Attacks on animals and humans are also increasing, with three to four incidents of attacks this week. The picture of Shirur taluka, earlier known as a drought-stricken taluka, has changed due to irrigation and sugarcane cultivation that has increased. Leopards are found in similar areas. The continuous attacks have created an atmosphere of fear among the villagers.
The sugarcane area has increased in Shirur taluka in Bet Bhag, Jambut Pimparkhed, Vadner, and Takli Haji. Leopards have long been present in Junnar, Ambegaon area. But, in the past few years, leopards have increased in Mandavgan Farata, an island area of Shirur taluka. Two days ago, Sanjay Nana Dudhavade (age 30) was injured in a leopard attack at Arun Dome’s farm in Pimparkkhed. On 6th September, a senior citizen, Harishchandra Barku Waghmare (age 65) was attacked by a leopard in Vadner. Five goats at Sakore settlement in Nimone were killed in a night attack by a leopard on 10th September. On 6th October 6 2019, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, Samriddhi Jori, died in a leopard attack in Pimparkhed.
Manohar Mhasekar, Forest Area Officer of Shirur, said that if there is rain in September and October, the leopards’ movement increases. In Shirur taluka, sugarcane is more abundant in the leopard-inhabited island areas, providing a lot of space for the leopards to hide. The number of goats and sheep that are the prey of leopards is also high in this area. Eight cages have been installed in the areas of Pimparkhed, Jambut, and Vadner, where incidents of leopard attacks have occurred. Given the increasing number of leopards on the island, the Wildlife Institute of India has started surveying the area by installing cameras.
Residents of leopard-prone areas should avoid sleeping outdoors. One should not go alone to water the farm at night. There should be a battery, a stick. If you have a mobile, put songs on it. The fence of your house, as well as the cattle shed, should be netted. If possible, sugarcane should not be planted in the house area. Poultry farm owners should bury the dead chickens and other waste away from the poultry. The Forest Department said that if dead chickens or other garbage is dumped near poultry, the presence of dogs will increase, and leopards will follow them.
