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Pune: More than 24 hours after a full-grown leopard was sighted at Pune airport, seen in videos resting metres from the runway, the big cat remained elusive. On Tuesday, a force of forest officials, Indian Air Force personnel and Airport authorities participated in a search, equipped with cages, trap cameras and other equipment, but there was no sign of the leopard. "There were no fresh sightings on Tuesday," said NR Praveen Pune's Chief Conservator of Forests.
"We installed two cages overnight on the airside of the airport, from where we believe the leopard either entered or exited the area. Trap cameras have also been placed. So far, there has been no sign of it," Praveen said.
On Tuesday, the leopard was even seen by taxiing pilots, sources said. On Monday, the leopard was first seen around 7am and then around 8pm, near the runway area of the airport, which is jointly operated by Airports Authority of India and the IAF. It's among the few airports in India where domestic and international flights share the runway with fighter jets.
One of the videos posted on local social media networks on Monday showed the leopard atop a boundary wall near the Air Force Station (AFS) campus. One local resident told TOI on Monday the animal was spotted inside the campus a few days ago. "The intrusion of a wild animal on the campus is a worrisome factor," said Air Commodore Satbir Singh Rai, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of Air Force Station, Pune.
"We've not reported such an incident at least in the last 15 years. As per our assessment, the animal might have come from the dense vegetation in the vicinity of the station." Rai told TOI: "The functioning of the AFS and the airport (which is part of the air base) was not affected due to the leopard that strayed onto the campus on Monday night.
We have ensured that our operational surface (runways and Sukhoi hangars) are guarded well. We have deployed adequate guards, including CISF personnel, at vantage points in the last 48 hours to ensure safety of the campus. Our quick response and animal rescue teams, along with the forest department, are working in tandem to trap the animal.
" Assistant conservator of forests, Mangesh Tate, said the number of cages would be increased if the leopard is not trapped. "For now, trap cameras have been set up at seven spots at the airport. That may be increased to 15 if there's need," Tate said.
Trap cages have also been set up inside the Air Force Station campus. "Sniffer dogs and personnel are tracing the animal to corner it on one side of the station to catch it safely," said AOC Rai. Another senior IAF officer said the AFS campus was spread over 3,500 acres.
"We share our boundary with Lohegaon and Wagholi areas and have a perimeter wall about 20 feet high with barbed wire. At vantage points, there are watchtowers. We also have patrols inside the campus and the gates are secured by armed personnel," the officer added.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol told TOI talks have been on with defence authorities to shore up security of the airport, including a plan to raise the height of its boundary wall to stop animals from entering. There have been incidents of dogs entering the facility in the past. "Response has been positive from their end, and talks are in progress," Mohol said.
About the leopard sighting, he said the forest department was working to track the big cat and instructions have been sent to Pune airport authorities to stay alert. Santosh Dhoke, Pune airport director, told TOI on Tuesday that the CISF have been asked to stay "extra alert". "We've also asked ground staff to be cautious.
Patrolling on the airside by CISF and AAI personnel has been increased too," Dhoke said, adding that flight operations at the airport have been normal..
