Modified Cages Installed to Capture Leopard at Pune Airport
Viman Nagar, 30th August 2025: Forest officials have set up two specially designed cages disguised as stormwater pipes at Pune airport after repeated leopard sightings inside the premises since April. The move comes as the animal has successfully avoided conventional traps.
Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Territorial), Pune, explained the strategy: “The leopard appears to be intelligent and has not walked into the regular cages. It is possible that it was trapped earlier and remembers the experience. Since it frequently uses stormwater drains to move in and out, we redesigned the cages to look like those pipes, hoping it will be lured inside.”
The leopard was first spotted twice near the airside of the Indian Air Force (IAF) base adjoining the airport on April 28, with several more sightings since then. The last confirmed sighting was on August 13.
Mohite said teams from the forest department and RESQ Charitable Trust are closely monitoring the area. “Our cameras are connected to mobile alerts. If the animal is seen near the cages, bait will be placed immediately to activate the traps,” he added.
Neha Panchamiya, founder and president of RESQ Charitable Trust, said the leopard may have altered its movement pattern after the authorities began blocking its usual hiding spots. “The animal seems to have realised that several of its safe tunnels are no longer accessible, so it is avoiding the area. At present, a basic level of monitoring is on. Grass cutting is underway to reduce cover, and we have advised strengthening certain sections of the boundary wall where it may have been slipping through,” Panchamiya said.
The Indian Air Force, which manages the 3,500-acre station adjoining civilian operations, has assured that precautionary measures are in place. “We share our boundary with Lohegaon and Wagholi. A 20-foot-high wall with barbed wire secures the premises, and our personnel patrol regularly. Armed guards are also deployed at the gates,” said an IAF officer.
