Pune: Leopard Sighted in Pashan–Sutarwadi; Forest Department Steps Up Monitoring
Pashan, 6th December 2025: Residents of Pashan–Sutarwadi woke up to a scare early Friday after CCTV cameras captured a leopard moving through two neighboring housing societies. The sighting has prompted the Forest Department to initiate monitoring measures around Pashan Lake.
“It was early morning when the animal entered our premises and the society opposite ours. It then moved toward Shivnagar, but we are unsure where it went after that,” said Mahendra Ranpise, Chairman of Mukta Residency, describing the brief but alarming sighting. He also mentioned a recent leopard appearance near Bavdhan, hinting at frequent movement in the belt.
A senior Forest Department officer confirmed the authenticity of the footage, stating, “Our teams have verified the visuals. They are genuine. We have deployed camera traps near Pashan Lake to track its movements and understand whether the leopard is using this area regularly.”
Residents of Priyogi Plaza said that while their security guard did not directly see the animal, a tempo driver witnessed it climbing the society gate. “I heard a loud thud, like something had leaped onto the gate. By the time I reached, the animal had already jumped over the wall,” said a watchman.
Forest officials advised residents not to panic but to remain alert. Another officer added, “We found pugmarks and hair strands at the site visible in the CCTV clip, confirming the leopard passed through. The surrounding green belt offers a clear escape route into the lake area.”
The department is investigating whether this incident is linked to previous leopard sightings in Bavdhan or RBI Colony in Aundh, though officials say it is too early to conclude if it is the same animal. Continuous surveillance has been initiated to track further activity.
