Pune: Male Leopard, around two were arrested by forest officials in the Hadapsar area here at around 11:30 a.m.
on Tuesday.
Officials believe that the same animal has attacked a 45-year-old man in Gosavi Vasti, also in Hadapsar, around 6am on the same day, he lounced on his arms and legs.
Deputy Forest Conservator (Pune Division) Rahul Patil said the leopard, who was definitely hiding in the area after the morning attack, stuck in a narrow gap between two houses near Gosavi Vasti.
“We were told late at night about the leopard trapped.
With the help of experts, we get animals that are being honed.
We will medically check the leopard and decide whether to save it in one of the rescue centers in Junnar or Katlaj Zoo, or release it to the wild , “said Patil.
Sambhaji Baban Atode, a resident of Gosavi Vasti, was in the morning walking with his friends when Leopard suddenly emerged from the nearby sugar cane field and attacked him, a forest official said.
One of Atode’s friends said, “We have finished our trip and will do stretching exercises when we heard animal sounds.
But we heed a bit because we thought it was definitely a dog,” he said.
The attack came just a few days after the residents of Mohammadwadi reported the appearance of leopards.
Although forest officials said they did not find evidence to support the population claims, the authorities had increased the vigil and started the awareness campaign about dealing with leopard attacks.
Speaking of Tuesday’s attack, Peope Range Forest Officer Mukesh Sanas said, “Leopard, who hid in the nearest field, attacked Atode before he reacted.
It disappeared into the farm.
All of this happens in seconds.
Atode has suffered minor injuries in the right hand and Feet.
“Patil said Atode was taken to the Sassoon General Hospital and was dismissed after treatment.
“We suspect the animal came from the forest area in Wagholi, where he had seen in the past.
This area has many sugar cane fields.
The animal must come to the fields to find food and water,” he added.
Apart from the fear of leopards in Mohammadwadi, the appearance of leopards in the suburbs has increased in recent months.
Leopards have been seen in villages near Hinjewadi Information Technology Park and in Dighi area under Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation two months ago.
Forest officials have confirmed the existence of leopards in bhukum, lavale, SUS and villages near the city of Pune in the past.