Maharashtra woman power utility employee shows presence of mind, helps forest dept catch stray leopard

However, sheer presence of mind helped Shelke, 48, handle the situation that saved her life. Her quick thinking also enabled the forest department to transport a leopard to the rescue centre in Junnar.

Shelke admitted that for a second or so she was scared but immediately gathered her wits and walked outside the testing room and latched the door. “A crowd had already gathered and the police and forest department officials soon reached the spot,” she said.

However, sheer presence of mind helped Shelke, 48, handle the situation that saved her life. Her quick thinking also enabled the forest department to transport a leopard to the rescue centre in Junnar.

On Thursday, Shelke was felicitated by Rajendra Pawar, Chief Engineer, MSEDCL, Pune Zone, for her actions.

Pradip Roundhal, Range Forest Officer, Rajgurunagar, said they received a call at around 11 am about the leopard entering the MSEDCL meter testing room. The forest department team and rescue team from Wildlife SOS were dispatched under the guidance of Amol Satpute, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar, and others.

The teams used a dart to inject the leopard, estimated to be 4 or 5 years old, and tranquillised it. The animal was later taken to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar.

Meanwhile, Pawar lauded Shelke and said she showed presence of mind by not shouting and quietly walking out. Forest department officials, too, hailed this brave act, and said that more often than not stray leopards are either incarcerated or killed by residents.

Forest officials had information about a leopard being sighted and had used a drone to locate the big cat since July 6. As per a survey done recently, there are around 10 leopards in the Rajgurunagar area.