Fake Leopard Sightings in Pune Go Viral; Officials Urge Citizens To Stop Sharing AI-Generated Images
Pune has seen two confirmed leopard movements this week, one in Aundh and another near Pune Airport. Alongside these genuine cases, a wave of fake leopard sightings in Pune is flooding social media, creating confusion and slowing down response teams.
A recent viral post on Instagram claimed a leopard was spotted at the Khadki bus stand, showing the animal calmly sitting on a bench. The photo appears AI-generated, similar to another round of fake images that circulated earlier about leopard sightings in Guruvar Peth and Ghorpadi Peth.
What’s Actually Happening On Ground
Officials have confirmed only two real leopard movements in the last few days:
• One leopard was captured on CCTV on Sunday morning near RBI Staff Quarters and Sindh Society in Aundh.
• Another leopard was seen near Pune Airport early Tuesday morning.
Both animals are yet to be rescued. Tracking teams from the Forest Department and RESQ CT are deployed through the night, using thermal drones and advanced monitoring tools.
Pune Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahadev Mohite said there have been no fresh sightings in Aundh since early Sunday. Teams believe the leopard has likely moved out of the residential pocket.
Officials Warn Against Fake Images And Rumours
The Forest Department has issued a strong advisory after several AI-generated images of leopards began circulating across housing groups and Instagram.
Mohite said these fake visuals are causing unnecessary panic and even delaying emergency responses. Before rushing to a location, teams must first check whether the call is real or triggered by a manipulated image.
He urged citizens to stay alert but avoid forwarding unverified posts. According to him, responsible reporting is now as important as field vigilance.
पुण्यात मामलेदार कचेरी, गुरुवार पेठे, घोरपडे पेठ बिबट्या फिरत आहे अशा पोस्ट फिरवल्या जात आहेत.
— Brijmohan Patil (@brizpatil) November 23, 2025
अवघडचय 😃😃
फेकन्यूज#पुणे#pune pic.twitter.com/TDuBNjUN4e
Why Leopards Wander Into Pune’s Urban Pockets
Honorary Wildlife Warden Aditya Paranjpe explained that Pune’s landscape makes such visits possible. Many residential areas border forest patches and defence land, making ecological corridors accessible for wildlife.
He believes the Aundh leopard may have followed the Mula river corridor, which links CME–Bopkhel defence forests to the riverbank stretch cutting through the city.
Paranjpe said:
• The leopard seen in Aundh has lived in that belt for nearly four years.
• The animal is calm, familiar with the area and avoids direct human contact.
• When a leopard enters a populated area, it usually looks for the quickest escape route to reach a safer forest patch.
He noted that leopards are shy and territorial. They prefer to stay hidden and are more scared of humans than people may think.
What Citizens Should Do
• Do not share AI-generated or unverified leopard images of Fake Leopard Sightings in Pune.
• Call the Forest Department helpline only when you see a real incident.
• Avoid crowding any sighting location.
• Keep pets indoors at night.
• Allow officials space to track and rescue the animal safely.
Authorities will continue night patrols and will update citizens if there is any confirmed movement. For more live updates on Pune, visit our Pune News Today page.
