Maharashtra: Fake leopard video sparks panic at Pune University

A trap cage is installed to track leopards’ movements on the campus. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on Tuesday issued a precautionary circular advising students and residents to avoid moving around the campus after sunset and before sunrise, following widespread rumours about a leopard sighting.

The alert was triggered by a video circulating on social media, which many believed was shot inside the SPPU campus. However, when the university contacted the forest department, officials confirmed that the footage was actually from Aundh's Sindh Colony.

Despite the misinformation, the university urged caution and instructed the public not to forward unverified videos or photos that could create panic. SPPU's Security Director, Suresh Bhosale, said any confirmed information from the forest department would be shared immediately with the community.

He added that anyone who genuinely spots a leopard must contact the forest department helpline (1926) or the University security department (020-48553383/020-25621000). Meanwhile, a political party office-bearer and a few university staffers claimed to have seen a leopard on the campus, though no evidence has surfaced so far.

Awareness workshop held

As a precautionary measure, the university organised an awareness workshop at the Jayakar Library auditorium, where Forest Officer Krishna Hake and RESQ team member Kiran Rahilkar briefed over 200 students, staff and security personnel on leopard behaviour, conflict prevention and movement patterns. A second workshop for university officers and employees was held on Wednesday.

Shishir Kale, a morning walker at SPPU, said, "Aundh and the SPPU campus are barely 2.5 km apart. It's good that authorities are taking precautions for the safety of students." In a separate incident, airport staff reported a leopard sighting near Pune airport at dawn on November 25. Although three previously installed camera traps captured no evidence, forest officials have now added five more, taking the total to eight. They have also placed three trap cages at strategic spots. This operation was carried out by the Pune forest range, RESQ and Indian Air Force officials, said Mangesh Tate, deputy conservator of forests.

Beware of fake videos

The forest department cautioned that several fake leopard videos created using AI or edited footage from unrelated locations are being widely circulated. Officials have appealed to the public not to fall for or share such misleading content. Anyone who genuinely spots a leopard is urged to call the forest helpline immediately.