A team from Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center (MLRC) along with forest department managed to save a scared- three year old female leopard, which had fallen inside a 50 feet deep well in a village near Otur
The perils of open wells across Maharashtra continue to threaten the leopards. On Sunday in a daring rescue operation that spanned for around four hours, a team from Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center (MLRC) along with forest department managed to save a scared- three year old female leopard, which had fallen inside a 50 feet deep well in a village near Otur, Maharashtra around 160 odd kilometres from Mumbai.
Incidentally the same team just a week ago had rescued another leopard, which had fallen in a 30 feet deep well from same Gulunchwadi village in Otur range making it two incidents within a week.
On Sunday the concerned locals after spotting the struggling leopard in the well contacted the forest officials who in turn alerted the Wildlife SOS run MLRC in Junnar after which a five member team headed by senior veterinarian Dr. Ajay Deshmukh along with six forest officers rushed to the location.
Deshmukh informed that the entire operation became complicated due to the fact that the bottom of the 50 feet well was also connected to an adjoining well and the scared and traumatised feline kept moving from one end to the other. “A big setback came in when the big cat on seeing the cage being lowered so that it could jump in it instead panicked and hid in the narrow crevice between the two wells leaving us with no option but to switch our plans that meant someone would have to go down in the well,” he said.
After re-strategising, Deshmukh and Veterinary Assistant. Mahendra Dhore who have handled several such cases earlier stepped into the trap cage with necessary gear along with tranquilising equipment and were lowered in the well by the team. As soon as Deshmukh got a clear shot he darted the leopard and once sedative began its work the leopard was picked up and put in the trap cage and the duo were pulled out by another cage.
“The operation had to be executed quickly and with lots of precautions as such rescue operations can be dangerous and need careful planning. There was lot of co-operation from the forest department in making this rescue a success,” said Deshmukh.
Dhore shared that the leopard was brought to the MLRC for medical check up. “We are keeping her under close observation while she recuperates from this stressful experience after which she will be released in her natural habitat.”
“This is an all too familiar scenario in India. Open wells and uncovered water tanks dotting buffer areas continue to pose a threat to animals residing close by. Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent such incidents from taking place in the future,” said Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS.
As per Wildlife SOS in the last decade around 1,500 animals, including leopards, jackals, jungle cats, sambars and hyenas, have reportedly died after falling into open wells and uncovered water tanks, making these a growing threat to wildlife in Maharashtra. “We are requesting people to sign Wildlife SOS’ on-going petition asking concerned authorities to fence areas around open wells or cover them so that the lives of many innocent animals and people can be saved here,” said a spokesperson.
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