Leopard sighted again on Pune Air Force Station campus
The Air Force station campus is adjacent to the airport.
Suresh Varak, range forest officer for the region, who is overseeing the leopard's capture and relocation operations at the station, told TOI the camera that spotted the animal is located away from the runway.
"We now strongly believe the animal does not live on the campus; it must be coming in and going out. But it has found a way to enter and exit the area, which suggests it has found food somewhere on the premises," Varak said.
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Earlier, forest officials had said the animal was likely sheltering inside the station's underground sewage network.
"We now doubt this theory as trap cameras have not had frequent sightings of the leopard. There are gaps in the Air Force station's barbed wire and compound wall, through which the animal appears to be entering the campus. For a leopard, this is feasible because it is highly adaptable to situations," Varak said.
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On April 28, the leopard — a fully grown male — was spotted on the compound wall of the station, barely 500 meters away from Pune airport runway, which is also used by commercial planes.
Since the sighting, Pune airport, managed by Indian Air Force (IAF), has intensified internal security and safety measures to mitigate potential threats posed by the animal, sources said.
Trapping it has however proven to be a challenge for forest officials, given the airport's military role.
The IAF has stationed two squadrons of Sukhoi fighter jets at the airport. Air Force personnel have extended assistance to the forest department.
"Our coordination with IAF has been excellent. They have their CCTV camera network on the campus and have increased their security arrangements. We briefed their personnel, including senior officers, and they cooperated with us in every aspect of the operation," said Varak.
A senior IAF officer said: "Ever since the leopard was spotted on the Air Force campus, certain restrictions have been in place to ensure safety of airmen. Also, adequate security measures are there to run air operations smoothly at the base."
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