Leopard rescued from 60-foot-deep well in Junnar

The 3-year-old leopard was released into its natural habitat.

A three-year-old female leopard was rescued from a well in a three-hour rescue operation in Junnar on Sunday. After conducting a thorough physical examination, the leopard was released back into its natural habitat. At around 9 am on Sunday, a resident of Pimpalgaon Siddhanath village in Junnar division of Maharashtra was startled by loud and panicked roars echoing from deep within the 60-feet-deep well close to his house.

He was shocked to find a leopard trapped inside and immediately contacted the forest department, which in turn placed an emergency call to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, run by Wildlife SOS, in the area. A three-member led by veterinarian of Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, Dr Ajay Deshmukh, and six forest department officers, rushed to the location and with the help of villagers were able to safely extricate the scared animal from the well.

Dr Deshmukh said, “The leopard was in a state of panic and had to be rescued immediately. The team first lowered a platform into the well to give
the leopard a chance to clamber out of the water and onto a safe space before lowering a trapping cage in and successfully lifting it out of the well. After conducting a thorough physical examination, we concluded that it was healthy and fit for release.”

Ramesh Kharmale, forester, Junnar division, said, “Due to the lack of proper net covers, a large number of wells in rural Maharashtra villages remain exposed thereby increasing the risk of wild animals getting trapped in them. The forest department works closely with Wildlife SOS in carrying out rescue operations such as this one.”