25 leopards died in State since Jan this year

A leopard was found dead in the Aamby Valley area in Pune district late on Saturday. The unfortunate animal apparently got caught in a poaching trap and died while struggling to free itself.

The incident occurred near Visaghar in Mulshi Taluk, 150 km from Pune. It’s the fourth incident of the death of leopards reported in the last two months in Pune and Ahmednagar district.

Since the beginning of this year, Maharashtra has witnessed an alarming rise in the number of leopard deaths, with wildlife activists and forest authorities estimating more than 25 deaths in the State since January this year.

In February this year, the bodies of three leopards were discovered in Bhor Taluka in Pune district under ‘unnatural circumstances’. At the time, police authorities said the animals had died as a result of poisoning.

Last month, in at least two tragic incidents of the manleopard conflict, a six-yearold male leopard was found dead in a forest near Alandi, while a two-year-old leopard was knocked down by a speeding vehicle in Ahmednagar district.

An official from the Pune forest department, meanwhile, said, “The village headman of Visaghar and local police authorities informed the forest authorities on hearing the cries of the trapped animal late Saturday evening. However, by the time we reached the spot after 11 pm. On Saturday, the creature had died from the wounds received by trap wires which was cut into its body.”