Wells covered and secured in Maharashtra's Junnar

Mumbai: In a community driven project, 31 wells in Junnar in Pune district has been covered to protect leopards and other animals from accidental falls.

Junnar houses the Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of iconic Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is also known for its forested landscape.

Over the past few years, the region has seen leopard-human conflict, as well as leopards straying into villages and farms and falling into open wells.

With a strong focus on prevention-led conservation, Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department, is steadily expanding its Open Wells Conservation Project in Maharashtra’s Junnar region.

31 open wells have now been covered to protect leopards and other wild animals from accidental falls.

The Wildlife SOS and MFD covered 11 wells in the last year, bringing the total secured to 31.

The initiative is now being scaled across high-risk zones under the Junnar Forest Division, including villages such as Otur, Pimpari Pendhar and Pimpalvandi, where leopard movement is high.

Alongside preventive measures, Wildlife SOS continues to respond swiftly to emergencies.

Over the past year, six wild animals were safely rescued from wells, reflecting the team’s constant vigilance and on-ground presence, even as efforts remain focused on reducing such incidents altogether.

To strengthen awareness, field teams engage directly with well owners and local residents to identify high-risk sites and implement practical, long-term solutions. Encouragingly, the initiative has received strong support from local communities. This collective effort has contributed to a noticeable decline in such incidents across the region.

Mahendra Dhore, Manager- Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, Wildlife SOS, said, “Our approach focuses not only on rescue but on prevention & awareness. By working closely with villagers and the forest department, we are addressing the root causes of these incidents.”

Smita Rajhans, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Junnar Forest Division, added, “This initiative demonstrates how targeted, solution-oriented conservation can create real impact. The collaboration between our teams and local communities has been instrumental in the success of this project.”

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, stated, “Every well we secure is a step towards ensuring that wild animals can safely navigate shared landscapes. We remain committed to expanding this initiative and strengthening coexistence strategies.”

Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder and Secretary, Wildlife SOS, said, “Long-term conservation depends on consistent, science-backed efforts. As Wildlife SOS continues to expand the Open Wells Conservation Project, the organisation aims to further reduce human-wildlife conflict and create safer habitats for India’s wildlife.”