The Maharashtra Forest Department along with Wildlife SOS had a tough job on hand as they rescued two leopards within a span of 24 hours from different places.

Residents of Navalewadi village in Satara district were stunned on hearing an unfamiliar distress call coming from a well located near their houses. When they checked, they found that a leopard had fallen into the 30-foot-deep well.

On observing that the creature was desperately struggling to stay afloat, they immediately contacted the Forest Department officials who along with the NGO’s rescue team reached the spot.

The two teams swung into action and started the rescue operation. A trap cage was lowered into the well and after 30 minutes, the 7-year-old leopard was safely pulled out from the well. The NGO’s veterinary team conducted a preliminary health check-up and on finding the animal fit, released it back into the wild.

In another rescue operation, a male leopard estimated to be between 6 and 8 years old was rescued after it was spotted feeding on livestock near Pachunda village in Newasa Forest Range, situated in Ahmednagar Forest Division.

Sharing details about this rescue, Dr Chandan Sawane, Veterinary Officer, Wildlife SOS said: “Our team travelled over 180 km to assist the forest department with the rescue operation. As a first step, we located the leopard and secured the area, following which the big cat from immobilised from a safe distance. The leopard was then carefully shifted into a transport cage and handed over to the Forest Department.”