Pune: “To get collared” is not a very pleasant term, particularly when it comes to humans.

But villagers in the Pune district of Maharashtra don’t seem to mind. They have started wearing special collars to protect themselves from leopard attacks. ADVERTISEMENT

While most are using spiked collars made of engineering plastic that are issued by the forest department, some are wearing metal spike collars. Experts believe that the metal collars are harmful.

The Pune district – known for its sugarcane plantations – is prone to human-leopard conflicts. Sugarcane plantations are located on the peripheries of forests and leopards are known to seek shelter in the dense cover the crop offers, particularly when they have cubs.

Several cases of leopard attacks have been reported this year. These a

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