This is the third instance of a leopard being found caught in a hunting foot trap in the Daund region over the past three years, raising serious concerns about the continued use of such unlawful and dangerous methods, an official said

The incident was first reported at 10 am by Aniket Shinde, Sarpanch of Nangaon village, who immediately informed Range Forest Officer Rahul Kale and the RESQ team. Forest Department staff of the Daund range and local RESQ CT team members reached the location by 11am, followed by RESQ CT’s rapid response unit from Pune by 12:30 pm

The adult female leopard, estimated to be approximately six years old, was found with her left front leg tightly caught in an iron foot trap, officials said

She was visibly exhausted, likely from struggling through the night. The leopard was safely immobilised and extracted by 1:15 pm, with immediate field stabilisation carried out by Dr Kalyani Thakur, said the official

"The leopard is undergoing detailed medical assessment at the Wildlife Transit Treatment Centre in Bavdhan, Pune," said an official