Leopard Mauls 18-Month-Old in Junnar: Second Attack in a Month Prompts Urgent Action

A tragic incident unfolded in Shiroli Khurd village under Junnar forest division as a leopard attacked and killed a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, Sanskruti Kulekar, on Thursday morning. This marks the second such incident in a month in the area.

The victim’s family, originally from Ahmednagar district, had recently migrated to Junnar for work and was residing on a farm owned by Sampat More. The attack occurred around 5 am when the family was sleeping in an open field on the farm. The leopard dragged the girl to a nearby field, prompting a search by family members and notification to forest officials.

Efforts to locate the missing girl resulted in the discovery of her body after three hours, with officials noting that the leopard had consumed parts of it. Amit Bhise, assistant conservator of forest, Junnar forest division, highlighted ongoing measures to monitor leopard activity, including patrolling, drone surveillance, and installation of trap cameras covering a significant area.

Authorities are now seeking permission from the National Tiger Conservation Authority-appointed committee to capture the leopard responsible for the attack. The compensation process has also been initiated, with the family slated to receive ₹25 lakh, part of which will be disbursed immediately and the remainder placed in fixed deposits.

Notably, this incident follows a previous attack on a four-year-old boy in Umbraj village, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate human-leopard conflicts. Local representatives have called for initiatives such as leopard population control programs and enhanced lighting in the affected areas during the daytime. The forest department has already submitted a proposal in this regard in January 2024, underscoring the urgency of addressing the issue to prevent further tragedies.