The Junnar forest range has witnessed 17 deaths due to leopard attack in the last five years, nine of them in 2024 alone. The hilly region on the northern end of Pune district, adjoining the Konkan, has ideal conditions for horticulture. But the plantations and orchards also provide a shelter to the big cat, officials said. The forest department has also installed Artificial Intelligence (AI)-equipped cameras at vantage points. The system triggers a siren which alerts forest officials. Officials have also installed ‘Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellant Systems’ which can detect the presence of a leopard at night time. The Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, home to 44 leopards, provides temporary or long-term care for the big cats injured in attacks by villagers or trapped in conflict situations. There are plans to expand the rescue centre so that around 125 leopard can be accommodated, said an official. The area has seen an increase in cultivation of crops like sugarcane, banana, grapes and pomegranate.
