Latest news with #SureshVarak
Time of India
29-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Leopard sighted again on Pune Air Force Station campus
Pune: A trap camera set up on the campus of Pune Air Force Station once again captured movement of an elusive leopard last week, the second confirmed sighting of the animal in the area since it was first seen on April 28, near Pune airport's runway. 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. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Undo 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."
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Leopard spotted on DRDO's Pune laboratory campus, second time since 2022
1 2 Pune: Security guards at Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), a premier Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory, spotted a leopard on its Alandi road campus early on Monday. As a precautionary measure, Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) officials issued a special advisory for personnel, including scientists, working at different facilities throughout the campus. This was the second time since 2022 that a leopard entered the approximately 100-acre campus of the laboratory engaged in the indigenous development of various engineering systems for all three wings of the Indian defence forces. The residential complex for Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) scientists and staffers is located outside the main gate on Pune-Alandi Road, separate from the lab's technical areas. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune A senior official on Monday told TOI: "After confirming the security guards' alert about the leopard on the campus, we issued the advisory to ensure a safe environment. Work at the laboratory was slightly disrupted, as we told the scientists and personnel in areas near the rear gate not to report for duty. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo Their safety is a priority." The campus of the lab has significant greenery and is adjacent to large campuses of the Border Roads Organisation, General Reserve Engineering Force, and Training Battalion II of the Bombay Engineering Group and Centre. Additionally, forested areas of Charoli village are barely a few kilometres from the laboratory. Forest division (Pune) officials inspected the campus, but could not locate the leopard. Suresh Varak, range forest officer, Pune, told TOI: "We have set up two camera traps on the campus. We have requested the laboratory personnel to trim the grass that has grown on the campus." He said, "Despite the presence of an extensive network of CCTV cameras of Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), the leopard was yet to be captured on video. We suspect the leopard might have entered the campus a few days ago. Our personnel will review the CCTV camera footage for clues. So far, there is no recorded evidence." Forest officials suspect that the leopard might be wandering in the area because of the abundant greenery and hilly terrain surrounding the laboratory. In 2022, a thorough inspection of the campus was conducted after the leopard was spotted. However, the animal was not captured then. Officials suspected that the leopard might have strayed into the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) campus in search of prey. "Stray dogs can be found both inside and outside the laboratory, making them easy targets for animals like leopards," an official said.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Leopard spotted at Pune airport, 500 metres from runway, 800 metres from new passenger terminal
Pune: A leopard was sighted twice at Pune airport on Monday, first around 7am and then around 8pm. In one video posted on a local citizens' group, the big cat is seen on the airport's airside, a restricted area where critical aircraft operations such as landings, take-offs and ground movements take place. Flight operations were not impacted on Monday, sources from the airport said. In another video of the leopard posted on X by a flyer around 9pm on Monday, a plane can be seen nearby. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Forest department officials TOI spoke to confirmed they were tracking a leopard at the airport. "It was spotted in the morning around 7am on Monday and later in the day around 8pm. In the evening, it was spotted roughly 500 metres from the runway and 700-800 metres from the new terminal building. We are now searching for it on the airport's airside. We have set up camera traps. We hope to capture it on Tuesday," said Suresh Varak, range forest officer, Pune Forest Division . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Power your home with our best selling solar panels SaverSuns Undo The leopard sighting came on the same day the Pune airport advisory committee had a meeting to discuss presence of wild animals in the airport area. During the meeting, it's learnt that officials from the Indian Air Force, which jointly operates Pune airport, urged authorities to take action. The advisory committee meeting was chaired by MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and was attended by IAF, CISF and other key officials. Mohol told TOI: "During the meeting, there was a talk about the leopard sighting. I will be talking to Pune Airport director and other authorities to find out more." Pune airport's runway and ATC are managed by the IAF, which also has a squadron of Sukhoi fighter aircraft stationed there. There was no comment from Pune airport director. IAF authorities had not responded to queries TOI sent via email till the time of going to press. People who live near the airport said they've now alerted all their neighbours to lock their doors and exercise caution. One resident of a housing society in Vimannagar said the leopard was seen inside the Air Force Station campus a few days ago. On Monday, it was seen again, the resident said. The video posted on the citizens' group, in fact, was taken from inside the Air Force Station campus. It showed the big cat, lit by spotlights, leaping over the barbed wire of the boundary wall. A retired IAF officer who lives in a housing society near the airport said the Air Force school inside the campus has been given a holiday on Tuesday. He said the exact reason for the announcement was not mentioned in the holiday notice.
