Leopard Sighted At Pune Airport Second Time in 7 Days; Forest Officials Intensifies Search

Pune Airport: On Monday evening, around 6:30 PM, airport personnel observed the leopard within the airport boundary, making it the second sighting in a week. Later that night, trap cameras captured images of the big cat near a tunnel entrance, which officials believe it has been using for movement. In response, forest officials have deployed 13 camera traps, four trap cages, and four live monitoring cameras in the area where the leopard was last seen. Sniffer dogs have also detected the animal's scent near various water sources within the airport.

According to TIE report, Mangesh Tate, Assistant Conservator of Forests in Pune, noted, "Since it's an adult leopard, it's quite aware of our whereabouts and knows how to evade humans, which is why it is proving to be difficult to catch." He added that airport staff have been advised to move in groups and use lights after dark for their safety. "He was seen a little distance away from the runway, but we can't be sure if he will resurface there, given the noise and lights," Tate explained.

Wildlife experts suggest that the leopard may have found a suitable refuge within the Pune airport area, feeding on stray dogs and small mammals. They believe the animal is using the tunnel network for shade and rest, which may explain its prolonged presence. One expert, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, "Its driving force could be the presence of stray dogs in the area. It can go more than eight days without food after it has fed on large prey."

The expert also indicated that the leopard likely relies on small water bodies in the vicinity to stay hydrated. "Since it now has all the necessary resources and is adapting to sound and light, the leopard may be feeling comfortable," they added. However, the presence of such a predator poses risks to human safety.

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