PUNE: A three-year old female leopard was recently rescued by Wildlife SOS and the forest department after she was found trapped in a deadly jaw trap in Kuruli village, in Shirur division of Pune.
Jaw traps are lethal hunting devices which can cause severe lacerations, joint dislocations, fractures and even death to wild animals.
Earlier this week, the Wildlife SOS team based out of the Leopard Rescue Centre, Junnar, received a call from the Maharashtra Forest Department about a helpless leopard caught in a jaw trap in a sugarcane field in Kurulii village.
A four-member team from the NGO geared up with safety nets, tranquillising equipment and protective gear to assist the forest department in the rescue operation.
The leopard’s left forelimb was caught in the steel jaw trap and she was desperately trying to break free of the painful leg-hold. Once the rescue team set up safety nets around the field, Wildlife SOS veterinary officer, Nikhil Bangar immobilised the big cat, using a sedative injection from a safe distance. The jaw trap was carefully removed from the entrapped paw and topical treatment for external injuries was conducted on-site.
The leopard was identified as a female, approximately 3 years old. As the extent of the internal injuries was undetermined, the animal was immediately transferred to the Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar for a more detailed examination.
Bangar said, “The leopard was in immense pain and any further delay would have caused severe damage to the forelimb. We disinfected the wound and are currently administering topical treatment along with analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication.”