Leopard sighting at Pune airport: Forest Dept intensifies search, flight operations unaffected

The leopard was first spotted on Sunday near the airport, prompting a Forest Department team to install camera traps in the area. While setting up the equipment on Monday around 8 p.m., the leopard reappeared within the airport’s demarcated zone.

Hyderabad: A leopard sighting at Pune International Airport premises has triggered an intensified search operation by the Forest Department. Flight operations for both civilian and Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft remain unaffected.

The Forest Department has put up a team to set up camera traps in that area. While trying to set up on Monday at about 8pm, the leopard would again suddenly reappear right under the airport’s demarcated zone before anyone and a swift response would be mounted with two trap cages, seven camera traps and even a dog squad sent out to identify areas with high leopard activity.

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On Wednesday the Forest Department increased the number of trap cages to three and camera traps to nine. While the leopard captures the attention of the cameras roaming the runway, checking traps while passing through the passenger boarding zone, it stands out as being elusive in capture.

According to officials, the leopard has entered either from agricultural fields or from Shirur, which is a known hotspot of leopards. They note the fact that newer generations of leopards have adjusted to human activities, spending their nocturnal hours near people while ignoring noise and lights around them.

The airport is a civil enclave inside the Lohegaon Air Base, under the IAF, and continues to follow strict safety measures along with the Airports Authority of India. Forest officers have also highlighted the IAF, ensuring precautions in both operational and residential zones.