Pune: Fear of Leopard Attacks Forces Villagers to Wear Nail-Studded Collars for Protection

Shirur, 9th November 2025: Rising incidents of leopard attacks in Pune district have pushed frightened villagers to adopt an unusual yet desperate form of self-protection — wearing belts or collars fitted with sharp nails around their necks while working in fields.

There had been three deaths due to leopards in the area, following which the forest department shot dead one leopard.

In Shirur taluka’s Pimparkhed village, both men and women have begun wearing these improvised protective straps to safeguard themselves from sudden leopard attacks. The villagers say leopards often target the neck, attempting to bite the “nardi” (jugular vein), which leads to instant death.

“How long can we stay locked inside our homes? If we stop going to the fields, how will we survive?” said a farmer from Pimparkhed, echoing the fear and helplessness among residents. “We now wear these nail-studded collars to protect our necks. It’s a shame we have to live like this, but we have no choice.”

Villagers have also put iron collars to their pet animals.

Leopard sightings and attacks have become increasingly frequent across Pune district over the past few months. In some incidents, citizens have lost their lives, prompting widespread panic in rural areas. Villagers allege that despite repeated complaints, neither the state government nor the forest department has implemented effective safety measures.

Farmers working in remote areas are particularly vulnerable. Several of them have fashioned these nail-studded belts from scrap materials and wires, wearing them while tending to crops or grazing cattle.

Just four days ago, the forest department shot dead a man-eating leopard that had terrorised Pimparkhed. Officials had initially tried to tranquilise the animal, but when it turned aggressive and charged at the team, a sharpshooter was forced to open fire.

Villagers, however, claim the department’s response is reactive rather than preventive. “They act only after lives are lost,” said another farmer. “Until the government ensures safety, these nail collars are our only defence.”

The forest department has acknowledged the rise in leopard movement in fringe areas and has stepped up monitoring using camera traps and night patrols. However, with human settlements expanding into forest zones, the conflict between man and leopard shows no signs of slowing down.