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Journalism of Courage
A male 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 tranquillised 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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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.
