A Familiar Shadow: Leopard Spotted Yet Again on Pune Airport Grounds, Prompting Urgent Action

Well, you might not expect a big cat to be a frequent flyer, but it seems Pune Airport has a bit of a wildlife situation on its hands. For the third time in less than a year, a leopard has been sighted on the sprawling airport premises, specifically within the confines of the Air Force Station at Lohegaon. This latest appearance, reported on Sunday morning, June 9, has certainly raised a few eyebrows and, more importantly, spurred the Forest Department into action.

It was IAF personnel who caught a glimpse of the elusive big cat near the Air Force’s technical area, and they wasted no time informing the Forest Department. Naturally, this immediately set off a chain of warnings. The Forest Department quickly issued advisories to both the Civil Aviation and Indian Air Force authorities, emphasizing the need for extreme caution and a stepped-up vigilance. It’s a delicate balance, ensuring airport operations aren't disrupted while also protecting a magnificent, albeit misplaced, animal.

To tackle this persistent visitor, the Forest Department has outlined several key recommendations. They've suggested installing camera traps around the periphery to monitor the leopard's movements, a good way to understand its patterns without direct confrontation. Trimming the dense bushes and overgrown areas is also on the cards, as these provide excellent cover for the animal. Of course, increased patrolling with powerful searchlights is a must, especially during dawn and dusk when leopards are most active. And perhaps a bit controversially, there's even been talk of managing the stray dog population, which often serves as a food source for leopards, inadvertently drawing them closer to human settlements.

You see, this isn’t just a one-off incident. This area has a bit of a history with leopards. Back in November 2023, a leopard was successfully tranquilized and rescued from these very same airport grounds. And then, just last month, in early May, another sighting occurred, though that particular leopard managed to elude capture. This pattern suggests the airport complex, with its relatively undeveloped sections and proximity to hills and natural habitats, might just be seen as an inviting, if dangerous, refuge for these animals.

Pune, nestled near the Western Ghats, isn’t entirely unfamiliar with leopards venturing into semi-urban zones. The vast, often quiet areas within the airport premises, with their natural green patches, can certainly provide tempting cover for a leopard looking for shelter or a meal. It's a stark reminder that even in our highly developed spaces, wildlife is always just around the corner, seeking its own path.

Moving forward, the Forest Department isn’t just issuing warnings; they’re gearing up for intervention. Plans are already in motion to deploy a dedicated team equipped with tranquilizer guns and a cage, ready to respond should the leopard be sighted again and require a safe capture. The primary goal remains two-fold: to ensure the safety of everyone working at or travelling through the airport, and to safely relocate the leopard to a more appropriate habitat. It's a tricky situation, requiring both swift action and thoughtful planning to keep both humans and our wild neighbours out of harm's way.