Maharashtra: Leopard hit by speeding vehicle on NH-61

PUNE: A male leopard was hit by a speeding vehicle on the Nagar-Kalyan highway (NH-61) near Ale village, Junnar, recently after which it was transferred to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for critical care.

The center is run by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Forest Department.

The leopard met with the terrible accident while crossing the Nagar-Kalyan highway. The incident took place on Sunday night. On finding the large feline lying unconscious in the middle of the busy highway, concerned passers-by alerted the Forest Department.

A team of five rescuers from Wildlife SOS also rushed to the spot to provide urgent medical assistance.

In the meantime, a crowd started swarming at the scene to catch a glimpse of the animal. The forest officers immediately stepped in to ensure that the crowd was under control while the leopard was carefully shifted to the nearest Forest Department nursery where Wildlife SOS veterinarians conducted an on-site examination and emergency treatment.

Identified as an approximately six-year-old male, the leopard was given fluid therapy and antibiotics. It was later transferred to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for intensive care.

Dr Nikhil Bangar, Veterinary Officer, Wildlife SOS said, “While no internal injuries were detected during the medical examination, we suspect paralysis due to nerve damage as the leopard is unable to move its hind limbs. A more in-depth examination will help determine the extent of the injury.”

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO, Wildlife SOS said, “The leopard is under medical observation and will be provided with the treatment it requires. Leopards are nocturnal animals and hence their activity at night is maximum. With little or no provision for wildlife corridors or underpasses in and around city limits that allow wild animals to cross roads or railway tracks safely, many unsuspecting animals put their lives at risk while navigating the roads and often fall victim to vehicular or train collisions.”

By nature, leopards are shy and elusive animals and their primary instinct is to avoid human contact. With the unwarranted invasion of their natural habitat leading to habitat modification, leopards are continuously struggling to find a foothold in the vanishing forests. This, in turn, forces them to seek prey in the form of livestock and dogs, closer to human settlements. The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a Schedule I species, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN Red Data List.

In the month of June, Wildlife SOS and the Forest department rescued a Striped hyena that was hit by a speeding vehicle on the Pune-Nashik highway in Manchar Forest Range.

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