A special training session was held for Emergency Response Units (ERUs) and Forest Department staff in the wake of the increasing human-leopard conflict in Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur and Rajugurunagar talukas of Pune district.
The training focused on reducing the severity of risks associated with leopard attacks through capacity building, preparedness, rapid response, assessment of intensity and spread of incidents and implementation of appropriate mitigation and rescue measures, according to a press release issued today by Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF – Junnar Division) Amrut Shinde.
According to the statement, 233 villagers of Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur and Rajugurunagar talukas were declared “affected areas” in June 2024 due to frequent attacks by leopards on humans.
The press release further stated that “according to a study submitted to the Junnar Forest Division by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, the density of leopards in Junnar and adjoining areas is estimated at six to seven leopards per 100 square kilometres.”
“This study of WII, Dehradun, was conducted in 2021… In a measure to reduce the threats of leopard attacks, a training session for emergency response teams was conducted under the leadership of the forest conservator (Pune) Ashish Thakare and Deputy Conservator of Forest Prashant Khade, on January 27,” ACF Shinde said.
The training session was attended by as many as 51 ERU members and 28 forest department employees from Junnar, Otur, Manchar, Ghodegaon, Khed, Chakan and Shirur forest divisions.
ACF Smita Rajhans, forest officers Pradip Chavan, Chaitanya Kamble, Yash Jadhav, Vikas Bhosale, Kunal Limkar and honorary wildlife warden Dhananjay Kokane were also present.
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During the training session, experts Nachiket Utpat and Kiran Rahalkar of the Rescue Charitable Trust provided guidance on leopard search and control operations, including tracking movement, placing cages, using camera traps, observing animal behavior using drones and evaluating movement patterns from aerial drone surveys, the press release said.
He further mentioned that experts Nachiket Avdhani and Shreyas Kamble demonstrated the use of thermal drone cameras during night and other periods to search for leopards in sugarcane farms and dense forest areas.
The participants were trained on how to immediately reach the places where leopard attacks occurred, in coordination with the forest department, police and health, to ensure public safety.
The participants were also informed about the measures to be taken to provide urgent medical assistance to the victims of leopard attack, conduct patrols and raise awareness campaigns for citizens.
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Forest officials said there are several irrigation projects in the jurisdiction of Junnar Forest Division. Due to the availability of water, many plantations of sugar cane, bananas, grapes and pomegranates can be seen in the region. These farms provide good hiding places for leopards. Additionally, pets in the area are easy prey for leopards, the press release notes.
The state forest department has rescued 184 leopards in Junnar division in the last five years, and most of them were rescued from open wells. Increased awareness sessions and efforts to cover these wells have contributed to a decrease in these types of incidents over time. From 54 in 2020-2021, the number of leopards rescued from open pits has reduced to 37 in 2023-24 and 27 in 2024-25.
The Junnar Forest Division has seen a sharp rise in human-leopard conflict in recent weeks, with at least three people, including two children, killed since October 2025 and several more injured in leopard attacks.