Leopard attacks motorbike rider in Junnar

In an attempt to run away from the spot, Prasad lost control of the two-wheeler and both fell off the bike, injuring themselves. The noise from the bike and the screams made the leopard retreat.

Another incident of human-animal conflict was reported from Junnar on Wednesday where a leopard attacked a motorbike rider in Hivre Khurd area.

This is second incident reported within a month. On April 16, Mahendra Waman and his wife noticed a leopard emerging from the woods and chasing their motorcycle along the Wadgaon Anand to Kalewadi road at Pimpalwandi in Junnar. (HT REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Prasad Ankush Kavade, a resident of Hivre Khurd, was heading towards the village with his mother Surekha at around 7:30 pm, when suddenly a leopard leaped onto the two-wheeler.

In an attempt to run away from the spot, Prasad lost control of the two-wheeler and both fell off the bike, injuring themselves. The noise from the bike and the screams made the leopard retreat.

When asked about the incident, Arjun Mhase, Junnar’s deputy conservator of forest, said, “I really doubt that the leopard had attacked a running motorbike. Unless being provoked, say the leopard is getting disturbed or the leopard mother is worried about the safety of her cubs, they will not attack. There must be some other reason behind this.”

This is second incident reported within a month. On April 16, Mahendra Waman and his wife noticed a leopard emerging from the woods and chasing their motorcycle along the Wadgaon Anand to Kalewadi road at Pimpalwandi in Junnar. When the leopard continued to chase them, the couple raised an alarm to draw attention from nearby villagers to scare away the big cat.

On March 29, two farmers, Baban Vehle and Arun Gade, from Bhama Ashkhed village, Rajgurunagar, were mauled by a female leopard. When the forest officials found that the leopard was the mother and was seen with two cubs, they advised the villagers to stay away from the area and not to agitate her further.