Maharashtra: Forest department, NGO save injured leopard cub

The injured leopard being treated

Timely intervention by the Maharashtra forest department and an NGO, Wildlife SOS, has saved the life of a grievously injured leopard cub from Pathardi, a region in Ahmednagar district's Tigaon forest range.

The cub, which is around nine months old, was first spotted by villagers on Sunday. The locals immediately informed the forest department, which, in turn, brought it to the NGO's Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar.

An X-ray examination carried out by Wildlife SOS's veterinary team revealed that the feline has injuries on its cervical vertebrae or the neck area of the spine.

The leopard is currently unable to walk and is being administered medical treatment by Wildlife SOS's veterinary team. The cause of the injuries is yet to be determined.

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Dr Chandan Sawne, veterinary officer, Wildlife SOS, said his team is providing physiotherapy to the leopard. "The animal is not able to consume anything at present, due to which we are administering fluid therapy and providing vitamin supplements along with a course of antibiotics," he said.

Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and co-founder, Wildlife SOS, expressed gratitude to the forest department for saving the leopard in a timely manner and for entrusting the NGO with its treatment and care. "Our veterinary team is making sure that the leopard gets the best medical care and treatment," he stated.

In India, Maharashtra ranks third among all states in terms of leopard population. At the same time, these felines are threatened by a host of anthropogenic factors such as habitat encroachment, fragmentation due to the construction of linear infrastructure such as roads and highways and lack of awareness among locals.