Dangerous Leopard Rescue Operation in Maharashtra Residential Area Leaves Eight Injured

Eight individuals, including two forest department staff members, were injured during a leopard rescue operation in a densely populated residential area of Nashik on Friday afternoon.

The leopard was observed moving through several neighborhoods including Sant Kabir Nagar, Kamgar Nagar, Parijat Nagar, and Vanvihar Colony situated behind Bhonsala Military School.

According to officials, the wild animal entered a house while navigating through the residential zone. After a challenging two-hour operation conducted jointly by forest department personnel, police, and volunteers, the leopard was successfully tranquilized and transported to the Wildlife Treatment Centre in Mhasrul.

The rescue effort resulted in injuries to eight people, with two of them being forest department personnel.

State Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, who personally participated in the rescue operation, acknowledged the growing leopard population in the region has become a significant concern.

"This issue was recently discussed during a cabinet meeting. Citizens are getting injured and small children are being killed. The government is taking this matter seriously," Mahajan stated. "I have discussed this with Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to allow me to address this issue as it falls under disaster management."

The minister outlined plans to increase the number of cages and traps, along with additional manpower, to address the situation effectively.

"A female leopard gives birth to cubs twice annually, typically producing around four cubs each time. This means the leopard population increases by approximately eight every year. Such rapid population growth represents a serious problem," the minister emphasized.

While local residents reported sightings of two leopards in the area, Minister Mahajan clarified that only one animal was captured during the operation that resulted in eight injuries.

The minister assured that all injured individuals would receive appropriate compensation.