Pugmarks, drone vision, sniffer dogs and skilled marksmen: How relentless pursuit took down ‘maneater’ leopard

The backdrop

In the past 20 days, in the villages of Pimparkhed and Jambut of Shirur taluka, three tragic deaths occurred due to leopard attacks. Shivanya Bombe (5) on October 12, Bhagubai Jadhav (70) on October 22 and Rohan Bombe (13) on November 2 lost their lives.

A forest official said, “These incidents triggered massive public outrage. In protest against the increasing leopard attacks in Junnar, Shirur, Ambegaon and Khed talukas, villagers staged agitations blocking the Belhe–Jejuri Road on October 12 and 22 and the Pune-Nashik Highway at Manchar on November 3.

On November 2, following the death of 13-year-old Rohan, an angry mob set on fire to a forest department patrol vehicle and the local base camp building, resulting in significant damage.

To capture or eliminate the man-eating leopard from the Pimparkhed area, Pune Forest Conservator Ashish Thakre obtained immediate permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to capture or shoot dead the maneater animal. Special teams from the forest department, including that from ResQ Charitable Trust Pune comprising veterinarian Dr Satwik Pathak and sharpshooters Zubin Postwala and Dr Prasad Dabholkar were deployed.

What exactly went into the operation?

Explaining the exact sequence of the operation that took place over a period of two days, Assistant Conservator of Forest Smita Rajhans said, “Multiple pugmark impressions were accurately measured at the site of the human fatality, and camera traps were installed the following day to aid in identification and monitoring. The forest department assembled a multidisciplinary team comprising experienced wildlife trackers, wildlife detection dogs, thermal UAV specialists, veterinarians trained in chemical immobilisation, and skilled marksmen. After a thorough analysis of pugmarks from the location, a thermal drone survey was conducted. A large leopard was located approximately 150 metres from the site of the human fatality. The tranquilisation team attempted to dart the animal from a vehicle. However, the dense sugarcane cover made darting inaccessible.”

Rajhans added, “The animal’s movements were continuously tracked by the thermal drone, while its pugmarks were again measured and compared with those obtained from the fatality site. The measurements matched precisely, indicating a very high likelihood that it was the same individual involved in the incident. As the team advanced cautiously, guided by UAV visuals, the leopard charged at the vehicle, necessitating its neutralisation. The shooters fired a total of three bullets fatally injuring the leopard. Post-operation measurements confirmed that the animal’s pugmarks matched those from the fatality site, pointing to a 99.9 percent probability that it is the same animal.”

What this means and the path ahead

Deputy Conservator of Forest Prashant Khade said, “This was a measured and carefully executed decision, based on limited yet credible and corroborated evidence. While Junnar faces multiple and complex human-wildlife challenges and several solutions are being planned, this operation marks the beginning of proactive, science-based, and professional conservation action led by the Maharashtra Forest Department and its appointed technical teams. We have to understand this action was only limited to the neutralising of one particular leopard involved in the fatal attack. So now the main remedial action we are undertaking is trapping the leopards in cages. Over the last 20 days, as many as 13 leopards have been captured and will now be shifted to Vantara rehabilitation centre as per government orders. The next important thing will now be to undertake the sterilization effort.” The 13 leopards captured include two trapped near Pimparkhed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A forest department release said, “This operation was successfully carried out under the guidance of Ashish Thakre, Forest Conservator, Pune Division with the assistance of Prashant Khade, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar, Smita Rajhans and Amrut Shinde, Assistant Conservators of Forests, Junnar, Nilkanth Gawhane, Range Forest Officer, Shirur, and members of the ResQ Charitable Trust with support from local villagers.”