In the Junnar region of Pune, Maharashtra, a rising leopard population — now over 500 — has led to frequent and often tense encounters with humans, placing both people and leopards at risk. For leopards like Vaibhav, these encounters meant forced removal from their natural environment. After being captured, Vaibhav was taken to a rescue centre, where he was confined to a small enclosure. Due to overpopulation, the centre was unable to provide individual care, leaving him without the space to roam or express his natural behaviours, which soon led to severe stress and trauma.

Confined in a limited space, Vaibhav’s health and well-being began to decline. The stress of captivity led to self-harm—he would bite at his limbs and tail and bang his head against the bars of his cage, a heartbreaking response to the overwhelming sense of confinement. His visible injuries reflected the mental toll of prolonged isolation and restricted movement, as he struggled to adapt to an unnatural life.

Based on a collaborative effort between Vantara and the Maharashtra government, Vaibhav was translocated to Vantara in Jamnagar, where he found a renewed hope. His enclosure was carefully designed to mimic his natural habitat in Junnar, complete with familiar sugarcane fields to help him feel secure. Vantara’s team of veterinarians and biologists crafted a holistic rehabilitation plan that included sensory enrichments like forest scents and natural sounds to reduce stress. They introduced gentle medical treatments with minimal restraint to heal his injuries, manage his pain, and help him rebuild trust, gradually easing his anxieties.

Today, Vaibhav lives in a spacious, enriched paddock, where he has the freedom to roam and rediscover his natural instincts. In this thoughtfully designed environment, he is healing both physically and emotionally, embracing the freedom to explore without fear. Once scarred and confined, Vaibhav now embodies a journey of resilience and renewal—a powerful testament to the transformative care provided by Vantara.