Pune: Record 68 Leopards Captured in Junnar, ₹2.38 Cr Paid in Compensation as Authorities Tackle Man-Animal Conflict
Pune, December 15, 2025: The persistent human-leopard conflict in the rural reaches of Pune District has seen a significant operational response, with 68 leopards captured in the Junnar Forest Division so far, according to Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi.
Collector Dudi emphasized that this is the highest number of leopards caught in the shortest duration, reflecting the intensity of the administrative and Forest Department efforts. The Pune District Administration has allocated ₹13 crore to implement various measures aimed at managing the leopard population and curbing attacks across the forest ranges of Junnar, Otur, Shirur, Ghodegaon, Manchar, Rajgurunagar, and Chakan.
💰 Massive Compensation Paid to Victims
The district administration has addressed public outrage over recent fatal incidents, including protests on the Pune-Nashik Highway, by expediting compensation. For the year 2025-26 alone, a total of ₹2,38,15,753 has been paid for losses incurred due to leopard attacks.
The breakdown of compensation is as follows:
| Loss Category | Amount Paid (₹) |
| Death of 5 Citizens | ₹65,00,000 |
| Injury to 5 Citizens | ₹2,18,964 |
| Death of 1,657 Livestock | ₹1,61,16,889 |
| Crop Damage (17 Hectares) | ₹9,79,900 |
| Total | ₹2,38,15,753 |
Strategic Measures and On-Ground Initiatives
The Junnar Forest Division, spanning four tehsils (Khed, Ambegaon, Shirur, and Junnar), is pioneering several techniques to mitigate conflict:
- Leopard Action Force: Base camps have been established in highly sensitive villages—including Pimparkhed, Nhawara, Bhima Koregaon, Aale, Nagadwadi, and Gawadewadi—to conduct 24×7 awareness campaigns utilizing local youth. This strategy has already reduced conflict in key areas over the last two years.
- Rapid Rescue & Awareness: The Forest Department conducts regular village patrols, public awareness campaigns, and has formed Rapid Rescue Teams. Over 40 awareness programmes have been conducted using performance groups (Kalapathak), alongside specialized classes in 50 villages by expert Soumitra.
- Technology and Protection: For the safety of shepherds and sugarcane cutters, 410 solar lights and 410 tents have been distributed. Furthermore, the division has successfully implemented a pilot project for solar energy fencing for isolated houses and cattle sheds in 150 locations, with plans to extend protection to an additional 550 houses.
- Rescue and Relocation: A 24×7 control room with a toll-free number (1800 3033) has been operational since May 2024. In July 2024, 10 leopards from conflict zones were relocated to a rescue centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, following Central Zoo Authority approval.
#जुन्नर वन विभागात आता पर्यंत ६८ बिबट पकडले; पिंजरे आणि इतर उपायाचा होतोय फायदा-जिल्हाधिकारी जितेंद्र डुडी#JunnarForest#LeopardManagement#WildlifeProtection#ForestDepartment#PuneDistrict#CollectorJitendraDudi#WildlifeConservation#MaharashtraForest#SafeVillages pic.twitter.com/AcAsW82w4d
— DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICE, PUNE (@Info_Pune) December 14, 2025
The Junnar Forest Division now has 400 operational cages and has declared 233 villages as ‘Potential Leopard Disaster Prone Areas.’ To enhance response, 400 Disaster Response Friends (Aapda Mitra) have been trained for the Primary Attack Response Team (PART), and 3,300 neck guards have been distributed to citizens.
Future Proposals Under Consideration
Collector Dudi confirmed that several long-term proposals are in place, awaiting approval:
- Leopard sterilisation programs.
- Providing daytime electricity supply for agricultural pumps.
- Expansion of the Manickdoh Leopard Rescue Center.
- Demand for additional manpower for a Special Leopard Protection Force, mirroring the Special Tiger Protection Force.
- Creation of four new leopard rescue centres and translocation to other protected areas.
The efforts are being closely coordinated with the Manickdoh Leopard Rescue Center team, where a successful track record of 185 leopard-cub reunions has been maintained between 2020-2021 and 2025-2026.
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