Stranded leopard rescued from a 10-foot-deep well near Pune

<p>
<strong>In what can be described as a miracle, a leopard had a narrow escape with certain death after it fell in an open well in Belsar village. This village is located in Pune, Maharashtra’s Junnar division.</strong></p>
<p>
The feline was saved due to joint effort of the Wildlife SOS and the Forest Department.</p>
<p>
After the creature fell, it paddled to keep itself afloat and alive but it was at risk of drowning as the water in the well was 10 feet deep. A local farmer concerned about the leopard’s life quickly informed the Forest Department. The Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center was also alerted.</p>
<p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vMwNnS5Nc2E" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>
The Wildlife SOS sent a three-member rescue team led by veterinary officer Dr. Nikhil Bangar. They were accompanied by a team of forest officers to the location, with necessary rescue equipment.</p>
<p>
While keeping the inquisitive crowd at bay, the rescue team got into action. A trap cage was then lowered into the well to rescue the leopard.</p>
<p>
Bangar sharing details of the rescue operation said: “The leopard is a male, approx. 7-years-old. The animal is exhausted from the ordeal, and will be kept under observation for a few days till he is deemed fit for release.”</p>
<p>
The forest official of the region, Ajit Shinde who is the Range Forest Officer said: “This is becoming a common occurrence across Junnar as leopards often fall prey to open wells while on foraging trips. We have advised the villagers to take precautionary measures by covering up open wells.”</p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Male_Leopard_Belsar2.webp" style="width: 720px; height: 480px;" /></p>
<p>
It may be recalled that just weeks ago, a leopard was rescued from a 35-feet-deep well in Narayanwadi village in Junnar division. Talking about these incidents, Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO & Co-founder Wildlife SOS said: “This is the second incident this week where we have assisted the Forest Department with the timely rescue of a leopard from an uncovered well. The issue cannot be taken lightly. It is not just leopards, a species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, that are vulnerable to these wells, but also several other species that may fall in accidentally, with potentially fatal results.”</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/maharashtra-villagers-come-to-the-rescue-of-leopard-that-fell-into-a-well-119348.html">Maharashtra villagers come to the rescue of leopard that fell into a well</a></strong></p>