The Forest Department deployed camera traps, live surveillance systems, and trap cages, but the big cat repeatedly avoided entering the cages and continued to move across restricted areas
Pic/Forest Department
A male adult leopard intermittently sighted within the Pune Airport premises since April 2025 was successfully darted and captured on 11 December, following a meticulously coordinated operation led by the Pune Forest Department, with support from RESQ Charitable Trust, the Indian Air Force, and Pune Airport Authorities.
The leopard was first confirmed on 28 April 2025. Over the following months, officials tracked the animal navigating a complex maze of underground service tunnels, dense vegetation, and low-footfall zones inside the airport premises—making capture efforts exceptionally challenging. The Forest Department deployed camera traps, live surveillance systems, and trap cages, but the big cat repeatedly avoided entering the cages and continued to move across restricted areas.
Pic/Forest Department
On 4 December, monitoring teams verified that the leopard had moved into the underground tunnel system. Authorities immediately sealed tunnel exits, reinforced barriers, and repositioned cameras to closely track the animal’s movement inside the confined passages.
Using these real-time inputs, a strategic capture plan was executed on 11 December by a 30-member joint team from the Forest Department, RESQ Charitable Trust, and the Indian Air Force. The team carefully guided the leopard into an approximately 80-foot tunnel, where a safe chemical immobilisation could be attempted.
Despite the cramped, low-visibility environment underground, wildlife veterinarian Dr. Gourav Mangla successfully tranquilised the animal.
“The operation demanded precision, patience, and constant reassessment,” Dr. Mangla said. “The leopard had damaged both live cameras, and I had to take a clean shot from a very difficult angle in a confined tunnel. The operation succeeded only because every team member remained calm and executed the plan exactly as designed.”
The leopard was safely retrieved and transported to the Transit Treatment Centre in Bavdhan, where it has recovered well and remains under veterinary observation.
Officials Speak
Shri Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Division, praised the collective effort: “This operation reflects strong inter-agency coordination and preparedness. For months, the Forest Department, RESQ, the Indian Air Force, and airport authorities worked seamlessly. Pune has shown it is equipped to handle complex wildlife situations in highly sensitive urban settings.”
Neha Panchamiya, Founder and President of RESQ Charitable Trust, underscored the value of strategy-led action. “Every wildlife capture is unique. Responses must be guided by strategy, timing, and context—not urgency. This operation demonstrates that data, technology, and teamwork can secure outcomes that protect both human safety and wildlife welfare.”
Officials confirmed that no injuries occurred and that airport operations continued without disruption throughout the process. The Forest Department will determine the leopard’s long-term management as per protocol.
The successful capture concludes a prolonged, technically demanding effort and underscores the importance of planned, evidence-based wildlife management in complex urban landscapes.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
