Leopard continuously seen at the airport
28 April 2025: Leopard was seen for the first time at Pune airport – twice in the morning and evening. It was a fully grown male leopard. Forest officials said that it is very intelligent and escapes from the cages. The airport has become a part of its territory.
19 November 2025: Two sightings near Bay No. 9 and Taxi Link K4 at the airport – 5:30 am and 7:40 pm. The Forest Department issued a warning to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
25 November 2025: Airport staff saw the leopard again in the morning. Forest department installed 8 camera traps. Earlier 3 trap cameras were installed, but nothing was detected in them. Now 5 more were added.
6-8 December 2025: Less traffic at the airport due to cancellation of Indigo flights. The leopard was captured in trap cameras in a calm environment. Forest officials believe that this is the best chance to catch it. Assistant Conservator of Forests Mangesh Tate said, “The leopard comes and goes through the stormwater drain. It considers the airport as its territory.”
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muralidhar Mohol on November 25 directed the use of special technology – night-vision equipment, thermal imaging devices and sensors. He said that due to security reasons, permanent CCTV cannot be installed, but temporary cameras can be installed.
Panic even in residential areas
23 November 2025: Siting at RBI Colony and Sindh Society in Aundh. Pugmarks and hair samples were found.
30 November 2025: Hotel D Palace in Bavdhan and siting on NDA-Pashan Road. Video verified.
1 December 2025: Siting near Bavdhan Forest Park.
5 December 2025: Siting at Pashan-Sutarwadi.
Flood of calls on helpline
Pune Forest Department’s helpline 1926 is receiving 40 calls every day, whereas in the first week only 8-10 calls were received. Range Forest Officer Manoj Barbole said, “90% of the calls are false or are photo-videos created by AI. Every report has to be checked.” Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahadev Mohite said that WhatsApp forward is the biggest problem. Help has been sought from the police so that action can be taken against those spreading misinformation.
Uttarakhand: Leopards wreak havoc on the mountains, 55 schools online
The leopard issue has taken the most serious form in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Here leopards are not only visible, but are also attacking in broad daylight.
Deadly attack in Gajald village
4 December 2025: 45-year-old Rajendra Nautiyal was attacked by a leopard at 6:30 am in Gajald village of Pauri development block. Died on the spot. Angry villagers took a forest department official hostage and demanded permission to shoot the leopard.
District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria, local MLA Rajkumar Pori and other officials reached the spot. The Chief Wildlife Warden gave permission to shoot the leopard and the shooter was deployed. The District Magistrate met the family and assured full cooperation.
55 schools online, lockdown like environment
4-8 December 2025: After the attack in Gajald village, the Education Department ordered to make 55 schools of Bada, Chardhar and Dhandhari BEO circles online. Schools and Anganwadi centers were kept closed on Friday and Saturday. Villager Suresh Singh Rawat said, “It seems as if there is a Covid lockdown again. But this time the danger is not the virus but a hunter roaming in broad daylight.”
Leopard was also seen in nearby Siroli village. The forest department intensified search operations, but the leopard has not been caught yet.
8 attacks every month in Uttarakhand
According to Uttarakhand Forest Department data, in the last 25 years (2000-2025), there have been 2,683 leopard attacks in the state, resulting in 547 deaths and 2,126 injuries. That means an average of more than 8 attacks every month. So far in 2025 alone, there have been 438 wildlife attacks, resulting in 44 deaths and 394 injuries.
Pauri Garhwal and Almora are the most affected districts. According to the Titli Trust’s 2021-22 report, “Not a month goes by in Uttarakhand without attacks by leopards, tigers, elephants or other wildlife. Leopard attacks are the most frequent and most serious.”
Chief Conservator of Forests Ranjan Mishra said that special attention is being given to sensitive areas, but the situation is very challenging. ‘Living with Leopards’ program has failed in Pauri.
Jaipur: Leopards entered high-security areas
Sightings of leopards have also increased in Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur. Leopards are being seen again and again in the residential areas adjacent to Jalana Leopard Safari.
disturbance in civil lines
20 November 2025: Leopard seen at 9 am in Civil Lines, the most high-security area of Jaipur. It passed in front of bungalow number 11 of former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, then entered the official bungalow of Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat. Raj Bhavan, residences of the Chief Minister and former Chief Minister are also nearby.
The leopard then ran away into the campus of Tiny Blossom Senior Secondary School. Police, forest department and tranquilizer team arrived. After more than two hours of hard work, the leopard was tranquilized at 11 pm in a house in Lane No. 6. More than 30 officers were present. The leopard was taken to Jalana Reserve.
Calf killed in Vidyadhar Nagar
26 November 2025: Leopard entered Vidyadhar Nagar Sector 10 late on Tuesday night. The calf was killed early on Wednesday. In the morning, people saw the dead body of the calf in the temple garden and immediately informed the forest department. Local people said, “At 2 o’clock in the night, the dogs were barking loudly. When I looked outside, everything seemed normal. In the morning it came to light that the leopard had killed the calf.”
Fresh pugmarks found. This was just 6 days after the Civil Lines incident. Leopards have been seen in Vidyadhar Nagar before – on the rooftops of Sector 8 in June and at the Central Government Guest House in December 2024.
Siting in Shastri Nagar and Bajaj Nagar also
27 November 2025: Siting in Shastri Nagar.
27-28 November 2025: Leopard seen in Nehru Nagar, Panipech and Sikar House area near Chandpol market. CCTV footage showed him running on rooftops and crossing the road. Roamed in densely populated streets for 4 kilometers. Late on Thursday night, Saroj entered the garage of a house 20 meters away from the cinema hall in Qureshi Colony. The owner of the house Mohammad Sabir immediately closed the shutters and informed the forest department. The team that arrived late tranquilized the leopard after 90 minutes.
7 December 2025: Leopard seen in CCTV in AG Colony, Bajaj Nagar on Saturday evening. On Sunday, people saw the footage and informed the forest department. Seen several times in Anita Colony, Saraswati Marg and AG Colony.
Chief Wildlife Warden’s team active
Chief Wildlife Warden K.C. Quick response team was formed under the leadership of Arun Prasad. The Ranger team is being led by Jitendra Singh Shekhawat. The movements of the leopard are being monitored on the basis of modern tracking tools, ground surveillance and reports from citizens.
Forest Department’s exercise
In Pune:
15 trap cameras were installed
3 Tunnel-Style Cages Installed
Airport and forest range officials, RESQ organization and Indian Air Force are working together
Use of night-vision and thermal imaging devices
In Uttarakhand:
Shooter deployed after declaring man-eater
55 schools shift online
cages and cameras installed
But the leopard has not been caught yet
In Jaipur:
Quick response team formed
Use of modern tracking tools
24×7 monitoring
Citizens’ cooperation sought
Precautions for common people
