Three baby leopards found in a sugarcane field were reunited with their mother in this heartwarming rescue tale from central India.

The three cubs, one male and two female, were found on November 19 by Wildlife SOS and the local Forest Department in Nagargaon village, in the Shirur range, Maharashtra.

The twenty-five day old cubs were kept under observation for a few hours and later successfully reunited with the mother later that night, as footage from a hidden camera showed.

Harvest season in Maharashtra often coincides with leopard cub season, meaning there is increased risk of leopard and human contact at this time.

Leopards often favour sugarcane fields to keep their cubs hidden since they offer good cover and seclusion from predators.

Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at the Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre said: “The mother must have been searching for her cubs, as within a few minutes she was able to sniff them out.

"On reaching the crate, she patiently waited to ensure no danger stood in the way, and then she cleverly used her paws to carefully tip it over.

"She then moved them to a safer location. Wildlife SOS makes every effort to make such rescue and reunion operations possible.”

Three baby leopards found in surgarcan field Reunited with Mother Leopard in Central India.

Three leopard cubs were rescued by Wildlife SOS & the Forest Dept. from a sugarcane field in Nagargaon village located in Shirur range, Maharashtra. The twenty-five day old cubs were kept under observation for a few hours and later successfully reunited with the mother.
Harvest season in Maharashtra often coincides with leopard cub season, which puts both humans and these elusive wild cats in a rather sensitive and conflicting situation. Owing to their dense and tall stalks, sugarcane fields foster a suitable shelter for the female leopards to breed in and this serves as a safe haven for their cubs from other predators. However, most often than not these cubs face the risk of being exposed to sugarcane farmers, especially during the harvest season.

On Tuesday, local sugarcane farmers in Nagargaon village stumbled upon three tiny leopard cubs while harvesting their crops. The Forest Department and the Wildlife SOS team operating out of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center were soon alerted to this incident and both teams immediately geared up for the rescue mission.
The leopards, identified as one male and two females, were estimated to be about twenty-five days old. They were found to be in good health and ready to go back to their mum. As leopards are territorial animals it is essential to release them close to where they were initially found. The cubs were carefully placed in a safe box and the team installed a remote controlled camera trap to document the reunion process, while monitoring the area from a distance.
Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at the Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre said, “The mother must have been searching for her cubs, as within a few minutes she was able to sniff them out. On reaching the crate, she patiently waited to ensure no danger stood in the way, and then she cleverly used her paws to carefully tip it over. She then moved them to a safer location. Wildlife SOS makes every effort to make such rescue and reunion operations possible.”