On Sunday evening in Kolgaon Mal village, terror has obsessed the villagers of Sinnar taluka after farmers spotted two leopards and five cubs. Forest officials have started operations to capture the animals. A leopard with his cubs were spotted in Chander Vasti, near Kolgaon Mal canal and another one along with her cubs were noticed in the farm of Valmik Jundhare.
Pravin Sonawane, regional forest officer of Sinnar, confirmed to the presence of leopards in the area. After the forest officials found pug marks of the leopards, traps were laid down in a number of villages. Cages were installed in Khurdwadi, Lonarwadi in Wadgoan area, Wadangali, Pandhurli, Naigaon, Pathare and other villages on Monday to capture the beasts.
The villagers are shocked to even step out of their homes. The forest officials have recommended them to move in groups, use smoke and play loud music to keep the leopards away.
Sonawane also said that there were many leopards in the Sinnar area because of farmlands. The forest officials doubt that the leopards may not walk into the traps as the area has many farms due to which they find prey and water easily.
Three goats were attacked to death by a leopard earlier this month. A 1.5-2-year-old male leopard was caught recently in the farm area of Wadangali and Kirtangali. Villagers chased two leopards for about four hours out of which one managed to escape. Forest officials are taking regular rounds in the area to keep a check on the leopard's movement. None of the wild cats has been rescued yet.
