Pune: Phursungi on the edge over leopard fears

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: Death of at least three stray dogs in leopard attacks in the past one week at Phursungi in Pune city has created fear among residents.
Phursungi was merged in the Pune Municipal Corporation(PMC) limits in 2017 following the state government’s approval. The area is witnessing rapid urbanization, but agriculture, mostly sugar cane cultivation, is practised in many parts.
Resident Nitin Kondhalkar said, “On February 12, one Swapnil Kasabe spotted a leopard crossing the road at Sonar bridge on the old canal while he was returning home in a car. The leopard roared as the glare of the car’s light fell on its eyes. As the leopard disappeared into the nearby fields, Kasabe called up some residents. They found pugmarks of the leopard in the area.”
Kondhalkar added, “Carcasses of three stray dogs were also found in a field behind the residence of Bajirao Saikar, a former member of the Pune zilla parishad, in Saikarwadi. There were scratches of nails on dogs’ carcasses. After an inspection, the officials confirmed that the dogs were killed in leopard attacks.”
Pune range forest officer (RFO) M J Sanas admitted that pugmarks of leopard have been found in Phursungi. “There have been attacks on a few stray dogs. The residents have said they have been spotting a leopard for the past 4-5 days. The area is away from the main gaothan, where agriculture is still practised. The forest department is conducting night patrolling and public awareness about leopard attack preventive measures,” he said.
“We have installed a cage at Koregaon village, around 15km away from Phursungi. We feel that the leopard had come to Phursungi from Koregaon. Usually, a leopard covers 3-km a day. The leopards that are being sighted are Phursungi are daily changing their location,” Sanas added.
In January 2019, a leopard was sighted on the NDA campus in Ahire village. In February the same year, five persons injured in leopard attack in Keshavnagar area of Mundhwa.