Pune: Leopard Rescued from 35-ft Well in Junnar after Tense Late-Night Operation

Pune, 3rd April 2026: A young female Leopard was rescued after falling into a 35-foot-deep open well in Khanapur village in the Junnar forest range on Thursday.

The animal, estimated to be around 3 to 4 years old, was spotted trapped in water inside the well on the outskirts of the village on Thursday evening. Residents alerted the forest department.

A joint team from the Junnar forest division and Wildlife SOS reached the spot and initiated rescue operations under challenging low-light conditions. A cage was lowered into the well to safely extract the animal.

Officials said the leopard initially hesitated before entering the cage, but was eventually secured and pulled to safety without injuries. Given the darkness, the animal was shifted to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for observation.

Dr Avinash Visalkar, veterinary officer with Wildlife SOS, said open wells continue to pose a serious threat to wildlife. “The leopard appeared distressed when we reached the site, but fortunately there were no visible injuries. A detailed medical examination will be carried out,” he said.

Smita Rajhans, assistant conservator of forests, Junnar division, said the operation highlighted coordination between agencies. “The rescue was made possible with timely inputs from villagers and the combined efforts of the forest department and Wildlife SOS teams,” she said.

Wildlife SOS co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan said incidents of animals falling into uncovered wells remain a recurring concern in forested regions and stressed the need for preventive measures.