A young leopard was successfully rescued from an open well in a village near Indore on Sunday afternoon, in an operation that forest officials hailed as a practical example of their proactive coexistence strategy.
Swift Action in Jamnia Khurd
The incident occurred in Jamnia Khurd Gram Panchayat. The Indore forest department's Ralamandal regional rescue team sprang into action after receiving an alert around 12:30 pm. They found the big cat trapped in a parapet-lined well.
Following strict safety protocols, the team managed to secure the animal. Forest officials estimate the leopard to be between 2 and 3 years old. After the rescue, the leopard was transported to a local zoo for a thorough medical check-up and is currently under observation, according to DFO Pradeep Mishra.
A Model for Coexistence
DFO Mishra stated that this successful intervention was a direct application of the ‘Integrated Human-Wildlife Coexistence Model (IHWCM)' adopted by the Indore forest division. He explained that data clearly shows wildlife is no longer confined to deep forests, with animals increasingly spotted in farms, villages, and urban periphery areas.
This shift has led to a significant rise in rescue operations. The numbers tell the story: rescues of wild animals have surged from 37 in 2021 to 159 in 2025. Specifically, leopard rescues peaked at 26 in 2025.
Addressing Human-Created Risks
Forest officials identified open and unsafe wells as a major human-created risk, frequently acting as deadly traps for leopards, nilgai, and jackals. Under the IHWCM framework, covering these wells and raising public awareness are categorized as vital conservation actions.
The DFO emphasized that the higher number of rescues reflects better detection, quicker reporting, and improved response systems, not an increase in animal aggression. This transparent approach has helped maintain public trust and kept human injuries remarkably low.
"By utilising advanced technology—including thermal drones and specialised cages—the Indore forest division has transformed rescue operations into a foundation for long-term coexistence in a shared landscape," DFO Pradeep Mishra concluded.
