Pune: A tense rescue operation unfolded in Tambdemala, Ambegaon, on Thursday morning when a leopard fell into a well. The leopard had climbed into a cage, but as it was being lifted, the door accidentally opened.

The leopard attempted to leap out but fell back into the well, causing a moment of panic among the rescuers and villagers.

The incident began when the leopard, chasing a dog, fell into the well. Farmer Maruti Malhari Tambde spotted the leopard while checking the water level.

As word spread, local farmers and villagers contacted Smita Rajhans, the Manchar Forest Range Officer. She quickly dispatched a rescue team including Rais Momin, Milind Temkar, Naveen Sonawane, Vilas Bhor, Manoj Talekar, Dhananjay Mengde, and Rishikesh Kokne to the site.

The rescue team lowered a cage into the well, and the leopard entered it. While the cage was being lifted, a rope tied to the door was unintentionally pulled, causing the door to open. The leopard tried to jump out but fell back into the well due to the loose gravel on the well’s edge.

Forest guard Rais Momin raised an alarm, causing the leopard to retreat back into the well, averting a potential disaster. This dramatic sequence of events left the rescue team and villagers relieved. The six-year-old male leopard was eventually secured and sent to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center for medical examination.

In January 2024, a male leopard, estimated to be 5-year-old, was rescued by Wildlife SOS, following an accident on Pune Nashik Highway. A huge crowd had gathered and blocked the road to witness the incident.

The injured leopard was in extremely agitated state due to the surrounding hue and cry caused by the public. Forest officials emphasized the need for crowd control during such operations to avoid hindrances and ensure safety.