We couldn't have asked anything more on this Children’s day. In a joint effort by Kopargaon Range Forest Department, Wildlife Welfare Association and local rescuers three leopard cubs were successfully reunited with their mother.
On 13th November 2018 while Sugarcane harvesting was going on in the field of Mr. Sampat Kadu at Pathre Budruk(Taluka: Rahata, District Ahmednagar); Labours noticed 3 cubs in the field. They immediately informed this to local snake rescuers who in turn informed it to Forest Department.
Local rescuers and forest officials rushed to the spot for the aid of the cubs. They secured the cubs in plastic crates away from the villagers. Meanwhile, they also contacted our founder Mr. Ravi Lohire and asked for our assistance. Our team 0f 5 members reached the location within 5 hours.
Cubs were checked by Government veterinary officer Dr. Dashrath Dighe and were declared fit to release. He also fed milk to the cubs.
On 14th November evening, we placed the cubs on the exact same spot where they were found in plastic crates. We also installed camera traps nearby cubs to monitor the movement of their mother.
At night around 10 pm female leopard appeared near the crate. She slowly pushed the crate and took cubs one by one to a safer place. By 1 am all the cubs were with their mother.
This time of a year we get lots of leopard cubs in a sugarcane field. Over the years leopards have adapted very well to sugarcane fields. If mother leopard didn't find her cubs then it could be dangerous for humans as she may get aggressive. Reuniting them is the best way to avoid conflict.
We want to thank DCF Mr. Adarsh Reddy, RFO Mr. Jadhav, and all the forest department staff for the cooperation during the entire operation.
Big thanks to the villagers who listened to us and cooperated with us.
We would like to thank local rescuers Vikas Mhaske, Farid Shaikh, Ganesh Jangam and Ajay Bodhak.
And special thanks to our wonderful team: Ravi Suresh Lohire ,Suresh Lohire, Aniket Rajendra Kadam , Sushil Gaikwad Wwa, Omkar Kolekar and Lalit Ghadi.
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