Pune Airport Leopard Sighting: Forest Dept Confirms Presence, Expands Rescue Ops
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Viman Nagar, 30th April 2025: The Forest Department, in collaboration with RESQ Foundation, has launched an intensive search and monitoring operation after a leopard was spotted near the Pune airport runway on Monday night.
The initial sighting occurred around 8 PM, triggering swift action from forest officials. Within hours, two camera traps and two trap cages were deployed at key locations around the airport perimeter. However, no immediate evidence of the leopard’s presence was recorded that night.
Search efforts were ramped up throughout Tuesday, with the inclusion of a trained dog squad to trace the animal’s movements. By Wednesday, the operation had expanded significantly, with a total of nine camera traps and three trap cages installed in and around the area.
The breakthrough came when one of the camera traps captured images of the leopard, confirming its continued presence near the airport premises.
“The leopard monitoring operation has been further intensified. Camera traps have been installed at nine different locations, and a third trap cage has been added. The Forest Department and RESQ Foundation are conducting round-the-clock monitoring to ensure the animal is safely captured,” said Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Division, on Wednesday night.
Authorities have assured that the situation remains under control, and that safety protocols are being followed meticulously to avoid any conflict with human activity near the busy airport.
The incident has raised concerns among nearby residents and airport staff, although no untoward incidents have been reported so far.
