Mumbai: Palghar woman killed in suspected leopard attack

Camera traps are installed to monitor movement, and a trap cage has been set up to capture the big cat. Pics/By Special Arrangement

A 52-year-old woman was killed in an alleged leopard attack in Palghar district, marking the first human fatality linked to human-leopard conflict in the area in nearly eight years.

[popcorn number="October 9" desc="Day the fatal attack is believed to have occurred" class="Default"]

Forest department personnel conduct awareness drives in nearby villages on safety precautions following the leopard attack

Tragic find

Victim identity: Pangli Govind Kolha, lived in Bhoglepada No. 2 near Navali village, with her home located along the forest fringe

Timeline of events: She was last seen on the evening of October 8 and is believed to have entered the adjoining forest early on October 9, when the attack occurred

Body recovery: Her body was discovered in a forest patch at Reserved Forest Survey Number Lo/9, Navali village, within the Vevur beat

Official confirmation: Following a joint investigation by forest and police personnel, a post-mortem on October 11 confirmed death by a wild animal attack

Rare sightings

The incident has left residents and forest department officials surprised, as leopard sightings near Navali have been extremely rare, with no previous record of human-leopard conflict in the area. While big cat sightings are relatively frequent in the Boisar and Dahisar forest ranges in Palghar district, Navali had remained largely quiet until now.

OfficialSpeak

Rita Vaidya, range forest officer, Saphale
‘Following reports of leopard movement in Mathane, Edvan and Ghatim villages, our field staff are actively creating awareness among villagers about safety precautions, protection of children and livestock, and safe coexistence with wildlife. We urge residents to remain alert, avoid approaching or provoking the leopard, and immediately inform the forest department about any sightings. Public cooperation is essential to ensure the safety of both people and wildlife.'

Ramanuj Bangad, assistant conservator of forests
‘Her body was recovered, and preliminary findings suggest that the death was due to human-leopard conflict. This is the first such fatality in the area in seven to eight years.'

Active tracking

. The forest department has stepped up efforts to track the animal and prevent further incidents
. Continuous day and night patrols have been deployed across Navali and neighbouring forest areas
. Camera traps are being installed to monitor the animal's movement, and a trap cage has been set up to capture the big cat
. Officials are conducting awareness campaigns through traditional public announcements and door-to-door visits
. The process to provide financial assistance to the deceased's family has begun as per state government guidelines

Avoidabletragedy

Wildlifer Anand Patil, Palghar
‘Leopard sightings have been reported here for the past month or two, even during the day. Had the forest department acted earlier, this tragedy could have been avoided. Officials claim the incident site is 15 to 20 km away from previous sightings, assuming a big cat couldn't travel that far - a misconception, as leopards routinely cover such distances. The department must step up patrolling to capture the animal, which locals describe as bold and frequently seen near settlements.'

Vigilance advisory issued

In a press release, Niranjan Subhashrao Diwakar, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), Dahanu, urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid entering forest patches alone during early morning or late-night hours.