Deadly Leopard Rampage Ends in Dramatic Showdown

On the night of November 5, 2025, a six-year-old male leopard, believed to be behind three fatal attacks in Pune district's Pimparkhed and nearby villages, was shot dead by a team of wildlife rescuers. The incident brought an end to a 20-day reign of fear that had gripped the Shirur tehsil region.

The operation was conducted with special permission from the Maharashtra forest department after the third victim, a 13-year-old boy, was killed on November 2nd. The rescue team, comprising forest officials and experts from a Pune-based wildlife NGO, had been tracking the leopard for weeks using camera traps and thermal drones.

Efforts were made to tranquilize the animal, but the attempt missed, and the leopard charged towards the rescue team. The sharpshooter, Dr. Prasad Dabholkar, a wildlife veterinarian, was forced to open fire, killing the leopard instantly.

While villagers expressed relief at the end of the attacks, the incident has also sparked a wave of unease and reflection among the rescuers. Dr. Dabholkar, who has dedicated over 25 years to wildlife conservation, described the shooting as "the most difficult night" of his life, saying he had hoped it wouldn't come to this.

Experts say the rising human-leopard conflict in the region is driven by factors like habitat fragmentation, shrinking prey base, and the expansion of sugarcane cultivation, which provides cover for the big cats and attracts their prey. They argue that coexistence and early intervention are the only sustainable solutions to prevent such tragedies in the future.