PUNE: A seven-year-old female leopard who was hit by a speeding vehicle on the Ahmednagar-Kalyan highway near Pimpri Pendhar was rescued by officials of the Junnar forest department and Wildlife SOS, an NGO which runs the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center in Junnar.
Officials of Wildlife SOS said that they received a call from the Junnar Forest department, of a leopard lying in unresponsive condition on the side of the busy highway. It was bleeding profusely and had deep wounds on its body and so the authorities feared that she was already dead. A team of five rescuers from the NGO accompanied the forest department for the rescue operation.
Wildlife SOS senior veterinarian Dr Ajay Deshmukh, carefully sedated the leopard using tranquillising equipment. The entire operation lasted over four hours after which the injured feline was taken to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center for diagnosis and treatment.
The veterinarians found internal haemorrhage, deep lacerations on leopard’s face and wounds on the left front paw. After hours of administering medicines, the leopard showed signs of progress, responding to medication. She is currently being kept under observation and will continue to be treated at the centre till she completely recovers.
Dr Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center, said, “The leopard is put on intravenous fluids along with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, “This is the third leopard that has been gravely injured in a road accident this year. The first two leopards were paralysed due to accidents and this leopard’s life was hanging by a thread when we found her. Our team is closely monitoring her condition and carrying out intensive treatment.”
Speaking on the leopard’s condition, Deputy Conservator of Forests Junnar, Jayaramegowda R, said, “At the moment, it is a miracle that the leopard is even alive. Wildlife SOS is taking care of the animal.”
