Leopard Safely Captured After Months-Long Search Inside Pune Airport’s Restricted Zone

A male leopard moving around Pune airport since April was safely tranquilized by a coordinated multi-agency team after detailed tracking inside an underground tunnel. The leopard is stable and under observation.

Pune | 12 December 2025: An adult male leopard that had been moving around the Pune airport area for over seven months was finally captured in a controlled rescue operation on 11 December 2025. The operation was carried out by the Pune Forest Department in partnership with RESQ Charitable Trust, the Indian Air Force and Pune Airport Authorities.

The leopard was first seen on 28 April 2025. In the months that followed, it continued to move across the airport’s restricted areas through underground tunnels and thick vegetation. Its unpredictable movement inside a highly sensitive zone created several technical and security challenges for the rescue teams.

Officials monitored the leopard round the clock using camera traps, live surveillance and cages. On 4 December, it became evident that the animal had again taken shelter inside the underground tunnel. All possible tunnel exits were sealed, new cameras were added and camera traps were repositioned to track its behaviour more accurately.

Using this information, a team of about 30 members planned a coordinated mission inside a narrow 80-foot tunnel. Wildlife medicine specialist Dr. Gaurav Mangala successfully tranquilized the leopard in the limited space. It was then carefully removed and shifted to the Transit Treatment Centre in Bavdhan for medical evaluation.

Forest officials confirmed that the leopard is stable and under observation. The rescue operation involved senior officers including Ashish Thackeray, Mahadev Mohite, Vishal Chavan, Mangesh Tate, and Suresh Varak along with the forest guard teams. RESQ’s Neha Panchmia and her team also played a crucial role in ensuring the safe capture.

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