Pune: Leopard strays into Mercedes-Benz plant in Chakan, rescued
India Today
A leopard entered the Mercedes-Benz India plant located near Chakan town in Pune on Monday morning. The big cat was captured safely by forest officials and police personnel from the plant.
The Junnar forest officials rescued a three-year-old male leopard after the feline was spotted on the campus of Mercedes-Benz India plant located near Chakan town in Pune district of Maharashtra on Monday, reported PTI. The leopard was rescued before noon by forest department personnel and wildlife rescue experts with the help of local city police. Panic gripped Chakan town when the leopard was spotted near the town and the plant had to shut operations for the day and will resume operations from Tuesday.
Luckily, no one was injured and the big cat was first spotted roaming on the factory premises by the security staff, following which the forest officials received a phone call from the company around 5 am on Monday morning.
More than six hours later, employees and other people heaved a sigh of relief when the big cat was captured safely by forest officials and police personnel around 11:30 am from the plant located near Kuruli village, over 35 km away from Pune city.
"The leopard was spotted on the premises of the Mercedes-Benz plant located near Kuruli village at 5 am on Monday. Upon receiving information, we rushed to the spot and moved the employees aside. Officials of the forest department and a rescue team were summoned,"Arvind Pawar, senior police inspector, Mhalunge police station told PTI.
The feline was captured safely using a tranquilizer (dart), he added. The leopard was taken to a transit facility for rescued animals in Junnar, which also acts as a rehabilitation centre.
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The company in an official release said that the employees were safely evacuated following the established safety protocols. The Mercedez Benz also expressed its gratitude to the local police and forest department officials for their swift action leading to the animal's safe rescue.
