Pune (PTI): A male adult leopard that had been intermittently moving within the Pune Airport premises since late April has been darted and captured safely, forest officials said on Friday.

The feline was captured following a multi-agency operation led by the Forest Department, in collaboration with RESQ Charitable Trust, the Indian Air Force and Pune Airport authorities, they said.

The presence of the big cat was first confirmed on April 28. On November 19, the leopard was spotted once again.

Forest officials said the wild animal utilised an extensive network of underground tunnels, dense vegetation and low-footfall zones within the airport premises to move in and out of the area.

Given the vast and sensitive nature of the airport landscape, capture efforts posed challenges. Continuous

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