Pune: Uncovered Wells Strike Again, Leopard Rescued From 70 Feet Deep Well
Junnar, 2nd March 2022: An approx. A 4-year-old female Leopard was found trapped in a 70-feet-deep uncovered well in Otur located in Pune district’s Junnar taluka, Maharashtra on Tuesday. Wildlife SOS & the Forest Department rushed to the rescue and carefully extricated the leopard in a harrowing 2 hour-long operation.
The incident took place just days after a male leopard was rescued from a 50-feet-deep well in Alkuti village in Ahmednagar district.
A local farmer who had approached the well to turn on the motor pump, was shocked to find the leopard helplessly trying to stay afloat in the water. The seemingly powerful feline appeared exhausted from the ordeal and was at risk of drowning.
The incident was immediately reported to the Forest Department and the Wildlife SOS team operating out of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center in Junnar.
A three-member team from Wildlife SOS, led by Veterinary Assistant Mahendra Dhore accompanied a team of forest officers to the location, with necessary rescue equipment. Meanwhile, a wooden log tied by ropes at both ends was lowered into the well for the leopard to hold on to for support.
Once the rescuers arrived at the scene, a trap cage was lowered into the well with its open door angled towards the leopard. Almost grateful for a dry spot to move onto, the leopard jumped into the cage and was quickly lifted out of the well.
After being carefully loaded onto the back of the Wildlife SOS rescue vehicle, the leopard was transferred to the Leopard Rescue Centre for medical examination.
Mahendra Dhore, Veterinary Assistant, Wildlife SOS, said, “The leopard is a female, approximately 4 years old. The animal is exhausted from the ordeal and will be kept under observation for a few days till she is deemed fit for release.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO & Co-founder Wildlife SOS said, “Wells in most villages remain exposed due to lack of proper covers or boundary walls. It is not just leopards, a species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, that are vulnerable to these open wells, but also several other species that may fall in accidentally, with potentially fatal results. Wildlife SOS is in the process of working with farmers and the Forest Department to cover open wells in Maharashtra to prevent such accidents from occurring.”
VM Kakde, Range Forest Officer (Otur) said, “Otur is a leopard prone area and these animals’ frequent neighbouring villages in search of easily available prey such as poultry and livestock. We suspect that this particular leopard had fallen into the well at night while on the prowl for food.”
