Stray Leopard That Brought Mercedes-Benz Plant In Maharashtra To A Halt Captured After 4 Hours

A leopard that spread panic and brought the Mercedes Benz India¡¯s production facility in Chakan, in Maharashtra to a halt was captured after nearly four hours.

The incident happened on Monday at the facility near Pune that spread over 100 acres.

The staff at the luxury automotive company was shocked to find a leopard prowling amidst their manufacturing unit.

Wildlife SOS

Concerned for their safety as well as the wellbeing of the leopard, the security staff immediately contacted the Forest Department. The Wildlife SOS team operating out of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre was promptly called in for reinforcements.

A four-member team from the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response unit led by Wildlife SOS Veterinary Officers, Dr. Nikhil Bangar and Dr. Shubham Patil was immediately at the location.

As a first step, the team located the leopard and secured the area. After following all safety protocols, Dr. Bangar tranquilized the leopard from a safe distance.

Wildlife SOS

The leopard was carefully shifted into a transportation cage and handed over to the Chakan Forest Department for further care.

¡°The leopard was a male, approximately 2 - 3 years of age. We are grateful for the Forest Department that acted promptly and helped save the life of this leopard,¡± Dr. Nikhil Bangar, Wildlife Veterinary Officer, Wildlife SOS, said.

According to the Forest Department, the leopard will soon be released back into the wild.

Wildlife SOS

¡°The leopard is currently under medical observation and will be released back into its natural habitat,¡± Yogesh Mahajan, Range Forest Officer. The Chakan Forest Department said.

Though the episode ended without any major incidents, this is yet another indication of the growing human-animal conflict in the state.

Due to rapid habitat loss, leopards of Maharashtra are being forced to venture into human-dominated areas. Our team is trained to ensure that such situations are handled with the utmost caution, keeping in mind the safety of the leopard as well as humans,¡± Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and Co-founder of Wildlife SOS said.

Wildlife SOS

Maharashtra is home to around 1,700 leopards, the third-highest in India after Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

According to the ¡®Status of leopards, co-predators, and megaherbivores in India-2018¡¯ report which was released last year, nearly 600 (35%) leopards have been recorded in protected areas (PAs).

Due to habitat loss and a growing human footprint in their territories, leopards are increasingly coming into conflict with humans.

BCCL

Last month, a leopard that had strayed into a human settlement near Badlapur village in Thane district was left with a plastic water container on its head.

It was rescued after nearly three days of search.

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