The unexpected escape of a male leopard named “Sachin” from the rescue and rehabilitation centre of Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj has sparked concerns about mismanagement, communication lapses, and potential security breaches. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), responsible for the zoo’s operation, has announced a probe into the incident, raising questions about the circumstances leading to the escape.
Probe Initiation Amidst Questions While “Sachin” was successfully captured around 9:15 pm on Tuesday after entering a cage baited with food, the incident has prompted PMC to launch an investigation. Vikas Dhakane, additional commissioner of PMC, stated, “The important thing for us was to capture the leopard. Now that the big cat has been captured, a probe will be launched tomorrow into the incident.”
Communication Gaps and Forest Department Concerns Forest department officials highlighted multiple loopholes in the initial communication from zoo authorities. Questions were raised about the decision to bring a leopard from Karnataka, the escape method involving bending iron rods, and the delayed communication to concerned authorities. Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests, emphasized the importance of timely information, stating, “The zoo officials after learning of the animal escape should have alerted the forest department, but we did not receive any information until 8 pm on March 4.”
Security Breaches and Delayed Response A significant security breach occurred as the zoo remained open on Monday, with the leopard on the loose, while over 1,000 visitors frequented the facility. Experts, including Prabhunath Shukla from Maharashtra Zoo Authority, argued that immediate closure and evacuation should have been implemented for safety. The delayed response time during the rescue operation was also a concern, with the absence of a thermal drone camera causing an 8-9 hour delay.
InShorts- The escape of leopard “Sachin” from Katraj Zoo triggers a PMC-led probe into mismanagement and communication gaps. Concerns are raised over the decision to bring leopards from other regions, security breaches, and delayed response during the rescue operation.
