Leopard Captured in Indore Spark Concerns of Rising Human-Wildlife Encounters

A young male leopard was captured in Indore's Sahara City after frequent sightings destabilized the area. Increased leopard activity in urban areas, such as Pune, has prompted authorities to intensify surveillance, including thermal drones and AI systems, to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and ensure safety.

In a notable incident, Indore's Sahara City residents were relieved after a five- to six-year-old male leopard, frequently sighted near the Devguradia forest, was captured. The forest department successfully trapped the animal using a strategically placed cage in response to its presence, sparking a sense of safety among locals.

Indore Divisional Forest Officer Pradeep Mishra attributed the rising human-wildlife encounters to Madhya Pradesh's increasing reputation as a 'leopard state.' To manage these encounters, surveillance tactics such as thermal drone monitoring and regular patrolling in populated areas will continue. The captured leopard, found in good health, awaits release into a deep forest.

In Pune, panic ensued following a leopard sighting in Aundh's Sindh Society, caught on CCTV. Despite deploying thermal drones and experienced trackers, the leopard remains elusive, highlighting ongoing wildlife movements around urban fringes like Manjri. In response, AI-enabled systems have been installed to monitor and prevent potential human-wildlife conflicts.

(With inputs from agencies.)