A leopard entered a home in Tirri village under the Adyal forest range of Bhandara district on Friday evening and carried away an eight-month-old baby sleeping in a cradle, killing the child in an attack that has intensified fear among residents living near wildlife areas.
The child belonged to Abhiman Bondre’s family. According to the report by Loksatta, family members were inside the house when the leopard suddenly entered and attacked the baby. The animal picked up the child from the cradle and fled, leaving the family scrambling to respond. The child died in the attack.
The incident is significant because it took place inside a house rather than in a farm, forest-edge field or open village space. The report said the attack has shaken Tirri and raised renewed concerns about the movement of leopards into inhabited areas in Bhandara district.
Residents said wild animal attacks have been occurring repeatedly in the district, affecting farmers working in fields and people living in villages close to forested areas. The latest incident has widened the safety concern to children inside homes, particularly in settlements where houses are close to wildlife movement corridors or forest boundaries.
Villagers alleged that forest officials reached the location late after receiving information about the attack. The allegation has led to anger over the department’s response and questions about whether preventive measures are being implemented quickly enough when leopard movement is reported near settlements.
Residents have demanded that the forest department install a cage to capture the leopard, increase patrolling and take immediate steps to protect people in the village. The demands reflect the immediate operational challenge facing the authorities: identifying and tracking the animal while preventing further contact between it and residents.
The incident also highlights the difficulty of managing human-wildlife conflict at the settlement level. When wildlife movement extends from agricultural land into residential areas, ordinary safety measures used by villagers in fields may no longer be sufficient. The report did not provide details of any confirmed capture operation, official compensation announcement or formal forest department statement.
The immediate focus now is expected to remain on monitoring the leopard’s movements, strengthening surveillance around Tirri and responding to the villagers’ demand for a cage and increased patrols. The forest department’s next steps and any official confirmation regarding the animal will determine the authorities’ response to the attack.
