Leopard Returns to Pune Airport Premises
A leopard has been sighted again on the premises of Pune International Airport, raising concerns among authorities and prompting immediate action from forest officials. The big cat was spotted twice on November 19 within the airport compound, marking the second such incident this year.
Double Sighting Triggers Alert
According to forest department officials, the leopard was first seen at 5:30 AM and then again at 7:40 PM on November 19. The sightings occurred behind Bay Number 9 and near Taxi Link K4 at the airport. This development has prompted the forest department to issue fresh warnings to both civil aviation and Indian Air Force authorities.
The forest department revealed that monitoring of leopard movements has been ongoing for 15-20 days within the jurisdiction of Lohegaon village, where the airport is located. As part of their response strategy, officials have installed a trap cage and multiple camera traps in the area to track and capture the animal.
History of Leopard Encounters
This is not the first time a leopard has been spotted at Pune International Airport. A similar incident occurred in April this year, which led to an extensive search operation at that time. During the previous encounter, the forest department had deployed two trap cages and seven camera traps overnight and used a dog squad to identify areas where the leopard was most active.
Despite multiple sightings captured on camera traps during the April operation, the leopard managed to evade capture. Civilian and IAF flying operations remained unaffected during that period, according to airport and defense authorities.
Security Measures and Coordination
Pune International Airport operates as a civil enclave within the Indian Air Force's Lohegaon Air Base, sharing a single runway for both military and civilian flights. This unique arrangement requires close coordination between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the IAF.
The forest department has specifically cautioned both authorities about implementing necessary precautionary measures to prevent the leopard from entering restricted premises. In an official press release issued on Saturday night, forest department officers emphasized the urgency of implementing suggested safety protocols to protect sensitive zones.
Following the April incident, the forest department had conducted meetings with Indian Air Force authorities, advising them to exercise caution in their operational and residential enclaves. The current situation has renewed focus on wildlife management in urban areas and the challenges of human-animal conflict in rapidly developing regions.
