Pune : Leopard ‘Sachin’ Safely Captured After 40-Hour Rescue Drama at Katraj Zoological Park
Pune : Leopard 'Sachin' Safely Captured After 40-Hour Rescue Drama at Katraj Zoological Park
Katraj, 5th March 2024: After an intense 40-hour hunt, the elusive leopard Sachin, which had escaped from its enclosure at Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj, has been successfully captured by a coordinated effort involving around 150 personnel from PMC, the police, and the forest department.
The operation culminated at 9:15 pm, marking the end of a tense pursuit that had gripped the city since Monday morning when Sachin first broke free. The leopard was finally found roaming within the confines of the zoological park, confirming speculations that it had not ventured far.
Sachin’s escape was facilitated by its manipulation of the cage’s top bars, leading to a comprehensive search operation that spanned nearly two days before its capture. Advanced technologies such as hydraulic ladders, drones, and thermal cameras were deployed to track down the leopard within the expansive park premises.
Threr Traps with food were positioned across the park to lure Sachin, amid tall grasses and bushes up to four to five feet in height.
The collaborative endeavor enlisted the support of fire brigade teams from Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and PMRDA, in addition to forest department officials, police officers, wildlife conservators, and zoological park experts. Enhanced surveillance measures, including additional CCTV cameras and drones equipped with thermal sensors, were employed to aid in the capture operation.
While celebrating the successful capture, authorities remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation to identify any lapses and implement corrective measures. Additional Commissioner Vikas Dhakne underscored the importance of reviewing and amending existing protocols to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
