Nagpur Leopard Attack Injures Seven; Rescue Highlights Severe Resource Gaps as Maharashtra Faces Surge in Human–Leopard Conflicts

Panic swept through the densely populated Shiv Nagar locality of Pardi in Nagpur on Wednesday morning after a leopard strayed into the area and injured seven residents.

One of the victims is in critical condition and has been admitted to the ICU of a nearby hospital.

The dramatic episode unfolded shortly after sunrise and ended only after a challenging rescue operation led by the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) in Seminary Hills.

According to forest department officials, the TTC team received an emergency call at around 6:15 am.

It is suspected that the leopard had entered the locality during the night and panicked at daybreak while trying to escape, attacking several people in its attempt to find a way out.

The animal eventually hid in a narrow space beside a house, near a cooler, where officials located it.

The rescue was complicated by the congested layout of the area and poor visibility.

Tranquillising the leopard required two dart shots before the animal could be safely sedated and captured.

During the rescue attempt, the leopard reportedly made multiple attempts to attack the team, posing serious danger to the contract workers who make up most of the TTC staff.

After sedation, the animal was placed in a transport vehicle—only for the vehicle to break down midway, forcing the team to rent a smaller vehicle on the spot to complete the journey.

A senior TTC official voiced deep frustration over chronic underfunding and a lack of safety measures.

“Our rescue team works with minimal equipment. Most workers are on contract, paid low salaries, and have no insurance.

Three of our team members were attacked. Who will take responsibility if something happens to them?” he asked.

He added that the Nagpur forest division repeatedly receives less funding than needed, even though the city is surrounded by forests and sees frequent wildlife movement.

He said the team relies on outdated vehicles, lacks essential safety gear and proper uniforms, and even had to borrow police shields during Wednesday’s operation.

“If these incidents happened in Mumbai, Pune, or Nashik, it would immediately become a major concern for the government. Nagpur, despite its wildlife presence, has been neglected,” he added.

Despite the hardships, the official stressed the dedication of the rescue workers. “Our team is committed and strong, but we urgently need basic protective equipment and better facilities to keep our personnel safe.”

Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Ganesh Naik visited the injured residents and told the media that all were out of danger.

He acknowledged the increasing incidents of leopard movement into urban spaces and said prevention efforts were underway.

“Our efforts are focused on keeping leopards within forest limits, but if they enter cities, our department will respond immediately to alert and protect residents,” Naik said.

The minister further announced that permission had been granted to sterilize leopards on a pilot basis. “In six months, we will know whether sterilisation is effective.

If successful, we will seek permission to implement it on a larger scale,” he said.

A day earlier, Naik had unveiled a plan during the legislature’s winter session to release goats inside forests to prevent leopards from straying into human settlements in search of prey.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra continues to battle a worrying spike in human–leopard conflict, especially in the Shirur range of Pune district.

Between Monday and Tuesday alone, three leopards were captured in trap cages installed by the Forest Department—adding to several recent captures.

These included two leopards trapped in Pimparkhed village, where two children were killed in attacks in October and November.

Over the past week, multiple leopards have been captured in the area, including one inside the Fiat Automobiles plant in Ranjangaon.

Between October 12 and November 1, three people—including two children—were killed in leopard attacks in Pimparkhed and Jambut villages, triggering large-scale protests. Villagers blocked major roads, including the Belhe–Jejuri Road and the Pune–Nashik highway, demanding urgent action.

Tensions escalated on November 2, when, following the death of a 13-year-old boy, an enraged mob set fire to a Forest Department patrol vehicle and a local base camp.

The damage prompted authorities to issue immediate permission to either capture or shoot the animal responsible.

Special rescue teams, including those from ResQ Charitable Trust in Pune, were deployed.

On November 5, a male leopard suspected to be involved in the Pimparkhed attacks was shot dead after attempts to tranquillise it failed,d and the animal charged at the rescue team.

The series of incidents underscores an escalating pattern of human–leopard conflict across Maharashtra, with forest officials stretched thin, local communities demanding swift action, and wildlife encroachment driven by shrinking habitats and prey scarcity.

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