Pune: Leopard at Airport Remains Elusive, Uses Tunnels and Roams Near Runway
Pune: The leopard that was spotted at Pune airport earlier this week continues to elude forest officials, even as they ramp up efforts to capture it safely. The big cat, first seen just meters from the runway on Monday, has shown surprising behavior, remaining calm and undeterred by the bustling airport environment.
“He doesn’t seem shy or disturbed by all the noise and is staying within the airport’s boundary walls,” said Mangesh Tate, Pune’s Assistant Conservator of Forests, on Wednesday. Multiple camera traps have caught the leopard exploring the premises, including the runway and even the passenger boarding area.
In response, the forest department has increased its efforts, installing a total of three trap cages and nine camera traps around the airport. Officials believe the leopard may have grown up in the adjoining forest and is therefore accustomed to the noise and lights. “He has also been using the airport’s extensive tunnel network to move around. In fact, he has been spotted emerging from a tunnel near the take-off strip,” Tate said.
The operation is being carried out without drones or other aerial surveillance tools, as Pune airport also functions as an Indian Air Force base. RESQ Charitable Trust, led by founder and president Neha Panchamiya, is assisting with the efforts. “There are several challenges. We are working on a busy and fully operational airport taxi strip. We understand the critical need to capture him at the earliest,” Panchamiya said.
Officials speculate the leopard may be surviving on stray dogs and rats inside the airport. There is also a possibility that the animal wandered in from Shirur, an emerging hotspot for leopards, where later generations have shown unusual comfort around human activity.
“We are hoping he moves out from the same route he used to get into the airport. But a big cat’s presence in such a place is worrisome and becomes a law and order problem,” said NR Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forests, Pune.
