Two leopards attacked and killed two calves in front of a farmer in the hilly area of Kambare village near Nasrapur in Pune district on Friday morning, prompting concern among residents of nearby villages and a warning from the Forest Department.
The incident took place at around 8.30 am when farmer Shekhar Kondhalkar was taking his cattle to graze in the hills. According to a report by Sakal – Pune, two leopards simultaneously attacked two calves in the herd. Frightened by the attack, Kondhalkar ran back to the village and informed other residents.
Several villagers reached the location soon afterwards. The leopards fled when they noticed the villagers approaching. The two calves were found at the site, having been killed and partially eaten. Residents subsequently informed the Nasrapur Forest Department about the incident.
Forest Department employee Pandurang Gutte visited the spot and conducted a panchnama of the two calves. Gutte said leopards had been seen in the Kambare area for the past few days and advised farmers not to enter the area with their cattle for some time. He also asked residents to ensure that livestock kept in sheds received adequate protection.
The incident has caused concern in Kambare, Degaon, Naigaon and Karandi. Residents are seeking immediate action from the Forest Department to address the increasing presence of leopards in the area.
Farmer Kailas Konde said the movement of leopards had increased significantly in the area. He said farmers were unable to remain in their fields after evening and had to enter agricultural areas to carry out farm work or bring fodder for cattle while fearing for their safety.
The attack highlights the direct safety pressures created when agricultural activity and livestock grazing take place close to leopard habitat. For farmers, the risk affects not only cattle but also routine work such as grazing animals, collecting fodder and returning from fields after daylight hours. The Forest Department’s warning temporarily shifts the immediate response towards avoiding the affected area and strengthening protection for animals kept in sheds.
The Forest Department has so far recorded the livestock deaths through its site inspection. The next steps mentioned in the report are continued caution by farmers, avoiding the area with cattle for several days and providing stronger protection to livestock in local sheds.
