No Sign of Leopard at Pune Airport for Weeks, Search Put on Hold
Viman Nagar, 9th June 2025: The elusive leopard that sparked security concerns after being spotted on Pune airport premises in late April has not been seen for nearly four weeks, leading forest officials to believe it may have moved out of the area.
Senior forest officials confirmed that the animal, identified as an adult male, was last reported by Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel on May 15. Since then, there have been no new sightings, despite continued vigilance by multiple agencies.
“We haven’t recorded any recent presence of the leopard in the area,” said Praveen N R, Chief Conservator of Forests, Pune. “While it’s possible the animal has left the vicinity, our teams remain alert and are prepared to act if there is any renewed activity.”
The leopard was first spotted on April 28, with visuals of the big cat near the runway taken by startled passengers seated in stationary aircraft. The sighting led to a month-long search operation involving camera traps, cages, and tracking teams. Despite multiple efforts, the leopard remained out of reach.
Following the conclusion of ‘Operation Sindoor’ in early May, forest teams briefly paused and then resumed their efforts—but to no avail. “We ramped up our tracking post-operation, but there have been no confirmed sightings since May 15,” said another senior forest official. “The trap cameras were removed after that, and the leopard didn’t appear in any of them.”
According to officials, the animal was likely surviving on small prey such as rodents and stray dogs within the 3,500-acre premises shared by the airport and the Indian Air Force base.
An IAF spokesperson had earlier clarified that apart from the confirmed April 28 sighting, there had been no prior evidence of the leopard in the area. “We informed the forest department immediately, but no concrete trail was found at that time,” the spokesperson said.
Pune airport authorities continue to follow established safety protocols. “We remain on alert and have instructed staff to report any potential sightings. The area falls under IAF jurisdiction, so our role is limited, but we are coordinating closely with all stakeholders,” a senior airport official said.
For local residents, the fear appears to have subsided. “When we first heard about the leopard in April, everyone took precautions. But since nothing has happened in recent weeks, people have relaxed. The concern has passed,” said a resident of Marvel Piazza society near the airport.
While the leopard may no longer be in the area, forest officials said they would continue to monitor developments and respond swiftly if the big cat returns.
