Beating the odds, this paralysed leopard in India learned to walk again with the help of human carers
- 5 years ago
This was the heart-warming moment a one-year old male leopard made a miraculous recovery after months of extensive therapy in west India.
Forest officials in Sangamner, Maharashtra came across the young leopard which was critically injured possibly due to an attack by an older leopard in early July.
It had minor head injuries and maggot-infested wounds on the neck region. It also suffered from nerve damage, which had caused complete paralysis of its forelimbs.
As it required long-term treatment, the leopard was transferred to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, run by Wildlife SOS and Forest Department of Maharashtra in Junnar.
Wildlife SOS veterinarians placed the leopard under long recuperative treatment that involved daily leg massages, physiotherapy,
assisted walks and nerve stimulating injections.
Months of intensive treatment eventually paid off and the leopard exhibited outstanding progress by slowly regaining control of his limbs.
They decided that the young leopard was ready to return to the wild and released it into a suitable leopard habitat.
Dr Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre said, “These animals have an incredible sense of self
preservation, so there was never any doubt as to his recovery.”
Jayaramegowda R., Deputy Conservator of Forests Junnar, said, “The leopard was in a very critical state when it arrived at the centre. His recovery was truly amazing and its reassuring to know that he can now live freely in the wild.”
Forest officials in Sangamner, Maharashtra came across the young leopard which was critically injured possibly due to an attack by an older leopard in early July.
It had minor head injuries and maggot-infested wounds on the neck region. It also suffered from nerve damage, which had caused complete paralysis of its forelimbs.
As it required long-term treatment, the leopard was transferred to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, run by Wildlife SOS and Forest Department of Maharashtra in Junnar.
Wildlife SOS veterinarians placed the leopard under long recuperative treatment that involved daily leg massages, physiotherapy,
assisted walks and nerve stimulating injections.
Months of intensive treatment eventually paid off and the leopard exhibited outstanding progress by slowly regaining control of his limbs.
They decided that the young leopard was ready to return to the wild and released it into a suitable leopard habitat.
Dr Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre said, “These animals have an incredible sense of self
preservation, so there was never any doubt as to his recovery.”
Jayaramegowda R., Deputy Conservator of Forests Junnar, said, “The leopard was in a very critical state when it arrived at the centre. His recovery was truly amazing and its reassuring to know that he can now live freely in the wild.”