Pune: The forest department in Junnar taluka saved five leopard cubs from two separate incidents within a single day, ensuring their survival and preventing potential conflict situations with villagers.According to officials, the first incident took place on Friday (Sept 19) afternoon in Rohokadi village when villagers spotted a leopard cub trapped inside a farm well. The matter was immediately reported to the Otur range forest office.A team of forest officials, rescue staff, and local villagers swung into action and carefully brought the cub out of the well. The cub, found to be in good health, was later shifted to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for medical observation. “The cub was less than a year old and is being monitored by veterinary experts. Once we ensure it is fit, the cub will be reunited with their mothers in the wild,” said Pradeep Chavan, Range Forest Officer, Otur.In another incident the same day, four leopard cubs were discovered in sugarcane fields near Belapur in the Malshej region. Such cases are common during the harvesting season, as sugarcane provides a safe shelter for leopards to give birth.To protect the cubs, officials placed them in specially designed wooden boxes at the site. CCTV cameras were installed to monitor whether the mother leopards returned to retrieve their young.Forest staff reported that two mother leopards have already been sighted near the fields. The forest department has appealed to villagers and farmers not to panic if they encounter leopards or cubs.“Most villages in Junnar taluka fall in leopard-prone areas. People should immediately inform the forest department if cubs are found. Leopard mothers usually come back in search of their young, and disturbing them can increase conflict risks,” RFO Chavan explained.Junnar taluka in Pune district has one of the highest leopard populations in Maharashtra, making human-wildlife encounters frequent. Experts and forest officials said that rescue operations such as these are critical to maintaining ecological balance while minimising risks to both people and animals.
