2 weeks Ago
Pune: Forest officials have found that leopard attacks in Daund were reported during daytime, unlike in Junnar where such incidents occurred during early morning or evening hours. Forest officials found the pattern while analysing the death of a 50-year-old woman in a suspected leopard attack in Daund on Saturday. According to the forest department's preliminary investigation reports, the woman, Latabai Dhawade (50), was weeding grass in her sugar cane field around 3:30pm at Kadethan village in Daund when the suspected leopard attack occurred.
As per villagers' account, the woman was dragged around 100m-125m into the field by a leopard. She was later discovered by her husband at 5pm. Forest officials have failed to find any witness or evidence to confirm the leopard attack, so far.
"We have sent samples to a forensic lab for tests and are awaiting results to confirm if it is a leopard attack," said Deepak Pawar, assistant conservator of forests. Yavat police's senior inspector Narayan Deshmukh told TOI, "A preliminary report said the woman died of head injuries. The circumstances, along with neighbours' statements, suggest that it is a leopard attack.
However, we can't confirm it yet. We are investigating all angles." On Nov 17, a two-and-a-half-month-old baby was killed by a leopard in Daund around 4pm while his family worked in a nearby sugar cane field.
"This pattern of attacks seems different from what we observe in Junnar. It is surprising that it is occurring in Daund during daytime. In Junnar, we have observed leopards attacks during early morning hours or in the evening.
We are trying to understand how to tackle it. There have been many studies conducted on the existence of leopards on the Bhima river basin in Daund, Indapur and other areas," said Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests, Pune division. The division is banking on methods uused by the Junnar forest division, such as holding awareness programmes and setting up tents for shepherds, to pacify angry villagers of Daund.
"The villagers are angry and asking us to set up trap cages and catch all the leopards. The only possible way is to create awareness," said Mohite. The department has set up two trap cages and four trap cameras to catch any leopard in the vicinity of the incident.
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