According to forest officers from Sangamner division, the cub was found shivering in a sugarcane field by a local farmer on September 10, and attempts to reunite it with its mother failed, as the mother was nowhere to be seen.
A 45-day-old leopard cub has been the centre of attention for the past two days at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre near Junnar, as he fights for survival, 10 days after he was found abandoned in a farm near Sangamner. Several efforts to reunite him with his mother have failed.
According to forest officers from Sangamner division, the cub was found shivering in a sugarcane field by a local farmer on September 10, and attempts to reunite it with its mother failed, as the mother was nowhere to be seen.
"We immediately alerted the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre who came and checked the cub, and even tried to keep the cub in the field so that it can be taken by its mother, but their attempts did not bear any fruit," said a forest officer, adding that the cub's condition was deteriorating, and was shifted to the rescue centre.
According to Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, senior veterinarian at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, that is run by Wildlife SOS, the cub is in critical condition. "Being away from its mother has not only made it scared but also has it stressing out. Worst of all is the fact that it is not getting its mother's milk that it requires. A person has been assigned to take care of this male cub," he said adding that the possible reason for its mother not coming back for it could be because of her relocating with her other cubs sensing fear due to one of them missing.
According to Deshmukh, the cub is being fed goat's milk, which is boiled first and then allowed to cool, one part being mixed with water, using feeding bottles. Due to low temperatures and rain, arrangements have been made in form of a box and dried hay to keep the cub warm and dry.
"One of the worst things that happen to leopard cubs found abandoned is that it is picked up by people, photographs and selfies are taken and the animal is moved here and there, which leaves it not only in panic but also severe trauma as these wild cats do not like being handled by humans," said an expert on leopards, adding that ideally the forest department officers should not touch the cubs nor allow anyone else to do so, but simply whisk them away and immediately return them back to where they were found.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "leopard")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}