The dosti of Vitthal and Ganesh is warming hearts at Maharashtra’s first leopard rescue centre in Manikdoh

This April, there are several reasons to celebrate, as the centre, a joint initiative of the Maharashtra Forest Department and Wildlife SOS, will not only observe Ganesh’s 13th rescue anniversary, but it will also celebrate Titli and Montu’s – two leopard cubs who were approximately four months old when they were rescued after they lost their mother in an accident — fifth birthday this month.

Titli and Montu, a female and a male leopard, were left orphaned when their mother passed away after accidentally falling inside an open well in April 2019. The siblings were found by local farmers who then immediately reported the incident to the forest department. With no chance of surviving in the wild, the cubs were transferred to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for long-term care.

According to centre officials, Montu, five, is shy and elusive by nature. Express photo

As the two complete five years since their rescue, they have grown into healthy adult leopards who now stay in separate enclosures. Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO, Wildlife SOS, said, “Our dedicated staff hand-reared the cubs at the facility. During the initial years, Montu and Titli shared a field, where they could be spotted chasing each other playfully. With time, the two cubs evolved to become strong individuals, each with their unique personalities. As they grew older, they required separate enclosure spaces, but Montu’s field is adjacent to Titli’s and they sometimes communicate with each other.”

Titli is a female leopard and Montu’s sister, who came to MLRC in 2019. Express photo

‘Caring for old leopards challenging’

The enclosures are fitted with numerous enrichments that ensure they remain cognitively and physically stimulated. Platforms, wooden logs and hammocks have been installed in Montu and Titli’s fields. The two use these structural enrichments as vantage points to observe their field. Dr Chandan Sawane, veterinary officer, Wildlife SOS, said, “Leopards enter the latter phase of their lives from the age of 12 and tend to have dental problems, joint issues and overall behaviour changes.”

“Caring for old leopards with disabilities is therefore a bigger challenge. While the caregivers prepare olfactory and food-based enrichments for the blind Ganesh, structural enrichments like platforms are constructed at lower levels keeping Vitthal’s physical shortcoming in mind,” added Amit Bhise, assistant conservator of forests, Junnar.
“The centre acts as a sanctuary for animals who are not able to go back to the wild,” N R Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forests,(Territorial), Pune, told The Indian Express. He explained that most of the resident animals at the rescue centre were either targets of human-leopard conflict, attempted poaching by traffickers or orphaned in the wild.

“At least 110 leopard cubs have been reunited with their mothers, while close to 40 have spent the better part of their lives in a near-natural environment, supplemented by veterinary care, medical treatment and healthy nutrition. At least 60% are under geriatric care,” said Neel Banerjee, spokesperson at Wildlife SOS.