Pune, 3rd November 2025: The Maharashtra Forest Department has issued an emergency shoot order to eliminate a leopard that killed a 13-year-old boy in Shirur taluka of Pune district on Sunday.
The order, signed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) around midnight, marks the first such directive in the Junnar forest division, a region often troubled by leopard-human conflicts but known so far for its reliance on capture and relocation efforts.
The incident occurred in Pimparkhed (Ambevadi) village, where Rohan Vilas Bombe was attacked around 3:45 pm while returning home. His death triggered angry protests among villagers, who torched a forest patrol vehicle and vandalised a Quick Response Team (QRT) base camp nearby. Forest officials said the mob blocked their entry for several hours until police intervened to restore order.
This was the second fatal leopard attack in the same village within 20 days, and the fifth death in Junnar division since April this year. Authorities said the shoot order was approved only after repeated failed attempts to trap the leopard believed to be behind several recent attacks.
A senior Pune forest official said the decision was made purely for public safety. He explained that the department had tried all other measures, including trapping and monitoring, but continued attacks left no alternative.
Wildlife researchers, however, voiced concern over the decision, saying that killing should be a last resort. They suggested identifying the specific animal responsible and addressing deeper causes like waste disposal, livestock protection, and habitat restoration to prevent recurring conflicts.
The Junnar Forest Division, home to one of Maharashtra’s largest leopard populations, has recorded more than 150 rescues and relocations over the past five years. Experts attribute the growing encounters to expanding villages, sugarcane fields, and shrinking forest areas that push leopards closer to human settlements.
The shoot order will remain valid for a limited period and will be reviewed based on field developments, officials said.
