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8-hour op, multiple agencies, continuous monitoring over 7 months: How the leopard seen at Pune airport was captured

Forest Department officials said no one was injured during the operation to capture the leopard, and that operations at Pune airport continued without disruption.

5 min readUpdated: Dec 12, 2025 06:23 PM IST

The animal was tranquillised inside an underground tunnel and is now under veterinary observation.

A leopard roaming the Pune airport premises for months was captured after an eight-hour coordinated night operation by multiple agencies. (Express Photo)

A leopard that was spotted multiple times at the Pune International Airport was captured in the early hours of Friday, after an eight-hour-long intensive multi-agency operation throughout the night led by the Pune Forest Department, in collaboration with RESQ Charitable Trust, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and airport authorities.

Officials said the operation to catch the leopard started around 8 pm Thursday, and the big cat was tranquilised around 4 am Friday, and safely transferred for veterinary observation.

According to the Forest Department, the presence of a leopard was first confirmed at the Pune airport on April 28, 2025.

“Over the following months, the animal utilised an extensive network of underground tunnels, dense vegetation and low-footfall zones within the airport premises to move in and out of the area. Given the vast and sensitive nature of the airport landscape, capture efforts posed significant operational and safety challenges. Continuous monitoring was undertaken using camera traps, live cameras and trap cages, though the leopard consistently avoided entering cages,” stated a press release issued on Friday.

“On December 4, monitoring confirmed that the leopard had entered the underground tunnel network. In response, tunnel exits were systematically closed and reinforced, additional live surveillance cameras were installed, and camera traps were repositioned to closely track the animal’s movement patterns within the confined space.”

30-member team, 80-foot tunnel

Based on this data, a focused operation was planned Thursday, involving a 30-member team comprising personnel from the Forest Department, RESQ Charitable Trust, and IAF.

“The team executed a coordinated drive to guide the leopard into an approximately 80-foot tunnel, where a controlled chemical immobilisation could be attempted. Despite the highly constrained conditions underground, the leopard was successfully tranquillised by wildlife veterinarian Dr Gourav Mangla. The leopard was then safely retrieved from the tunnel and transferred for veterinary observation,” said the release.

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Pune Airport Leopard captured successfully after an 8-hours long multi agency operation. (Express Photo)

Vishal Chavan, Range Forest Officer, Pune said, “the leopard is four to five years old and its health is being examined at the treatment centre. Further decision about the leopard will be taken by the forest department authorities based on its medical condition.’

Dr Mangla said the operation to capture the leopard “demanded precision, patience and constant reassessment on the ground”. “The leopard had damaged both live cameras, and I had to take a clean shot from a very difficult angle in a confined tunnel space. The successful darting was possible only because the teams held their positions calmly, and executed the plan exactly as designed,” he added.

The press release said the leopard has recovered well, and is currently housed at the Transit Treatment Centre at Bavdhan, Pune, for further observation and assessment.

Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Division, said, “This operation reflects strong inter-agency coordination and preparedness. The Forest Department, RESQ Charitable Trust, the Indian Air Force, and airport authorities worked seamlessly over several months. Pune has demonstrated that it is equipped to respond to complex wildlife situations within highly sensitive urban and infrastructure settings.”

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Meanwhile, forest officials said attempts are also underway to capture the leopard spotted in Aundh, Bavdhan, and Pashan areas of the city. (Express Photo)

Neha Panchamiya, Founder and President, RESQ Charitable Trust, said, “Every wildlife capture situation is unique, and responses must be guided by strategy, timing, and context rather than urgency alone. This operation shows that wise, measured decision-making, supported by data, technology and teamwork, leads to outcomes that prioritise both human safety and wildlife welfare.”

Officials said no one was injured during the operation, and that airport operations continued without disruption. The Forest Department will take further decisions regarding the leopard’s long-term management in accordance with protocols.

Meanwhile, forest officials said attempts are also underway to capture the leopard spotted in Aundh, Bavdhan, and Pashan areas of the city.

Also Read | Forest Dept, IAF conduct field visit to leopard sighting spot at Pune Airport

A leopard was seen in RBI Colony and Sindh Society in Aundh on November 23. On December 5, a leopard was spotted yet again in the Pashan and Sutarwadi areas. Before that, the leopard was sighted in the Bavdhan area of Pune on the night between November 31 and December 1, along the Pashan NDA Road.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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