Leopard spotted in upscale Aundh locality of Pune in wee hours of Sunday

Pune: Fear has gripped residents of the sprawling Sindh Cooperative Housing Society in the upscale Aundh area, after a leopard was spotted on the premises of RBI Colony next door around 4am on Sunday. The sighting, right opposite the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus, comes just a day after an elusive leopard — seen multiple times at Pune airport this year — reappeared on the taxiway last week. Deputy conservator of forests of Pune forest division Mahadev Mohite confirmed the latest sighting to TOI. "A search operation has been launched in coordination with a team of RESQ Charitable Trust. We are using dog squads and drones to trace the animal, which has not been seen since it was captured on CCTV footage. The operation is still going on and will continue," he said on Sunday. Mohite confirmed that this leopard is not the same as the one seen at Pune airport. "Both locations are far from each other. It cannot be the same animal," he said. Range forest officer Manoj Barbole told TOI that five trap cameras have been set up at various points until now. "No one lives in RBI Colony, but it has security staff. Sindh Society is located behind it, and parts of the premises share a common boundary wall. Our search is going on. After dark, we will use thermal drones to trace the animal," he said. RESQ Charitable Trust founder-president Neha Panchamiya said 10 members of their team, along with four forest officials, are looking for the big cat. "Efforts are on. There is a probability that the leopard will show up again in late evening hours or at night," she said. Residents of Sindh Society and beyond are concerned about the wild animal sighting in the heart of the city. Sital Ahuja, chairman of Sindh Cooperative Housing Society, said the leopard was first seen in CCTV camera footage of RBI Colony. "In one of the plots of our society, the RESQ team found pugmarks and hair belonging to the animal. Meanwhile, we have closed our clubhouse, garden area and swimming pool for now. Residents, especially senior citizens, have been asked not to venture out and keep their pets inside. Our society consists of four buildings, in which 280 families reside," he said. Ahuja added, "We hear the official teams plan to use thermal imaging to trace the animal after dark. We hope it is caught soon." Another resident of the society, who requested anonymity, said, "We are worried. There are many children in the society. We hope the leopard is trapped and normalcy returns. How did the leopard come here? It is a very strange development." Ripples of fear are being felt outside the society, too. Prakash Kadam, a resident near Bremen Chowk, said, "The whole leopard scenario is getting scarier. I have asked my family members to stay indoors. We had plans to go out on Sunday, but chose to take no risk. Maybe we are overreacting. But anyway common citizen would be worried in such a situation." Activist Vijay Kumbhar, who lives in Aundh, said, "The forest department will know better, but I believe the leopard may have come here from the Hinjewadi side. Sindh Society has of a lot of greenery. It is a busy area with a lot of flats and shops." RFO Barbole urged residents not to panic. "Rumours shouldn't be spread. If any resident receives information, they should dial 1926. The Pune forest department believes that this operation can be carried out more effectively only with the cooperation of citizens." Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole told TOI that he is aware of the situation and coordinating with the authorities. "People should remain alert. State govt is serious about the leopard issue and even the chief minister has spoken about it," he said.

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