Aravalli, Aug 22 (IANS) A leopard left paralysed after being hit by a vehicle near Shamlaji in Gujarat’s Aravalli district has regained the ability to stand and walk following months of specialised veterinary treatment and rehabilitation at the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation in Gandhinagar.
The leopard was seriously injured on January 19 after being involved in an automobile accident on the Kheracha-Khodambha Highway.
Forest Department personnel rescued it and shifted it to a departmental facility, where Veterinary Officers of the Department of Animal Husbandry provided initial treatment.
The animal was subsequently referred to the GEER Foundation for advanced investigation and specialised wildlife care.
“The leopard’s condition was critical. It was completely paralysed in both hind limbs, could not stand and was forced to drag its hindquarters using its forelimbs. Given the severity of its neurological condition, the animal was referred for advanced investigation and specialised wildlife veterinary care,” said B.P. Pati, Director of the GEER Foundation.
On January 20, the Aravalli Forest Division approached the foundation, following which the leopard was taken to the Referral Centre, Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex at Rajpur, Himatnagar, under Kamdhenu University, for radiographic examination.
The animal was anaesthetised for the procedure. Radiographs showed a traumatic lumbosacral fracture-subluxation at the L7-S1 region, with suspected involvement of the lumbosacral articular elements.
The injury affected an area closely associated with nerve roots responsible for functions involving the hind limbs, tail and pelvic region, explaining the animal’s severe paralysis and inability to stand.
The leopard had also sustained a serious lower-jaw injury, with drooping of the lower lips, extensive soft-tissue damage and infection involving the oral and gingival tissues.
It initially struggled to eat and drink, further complicating its condition. After being shifted to Indroda Nature Park in Gandhinagar, the leopard was admitted to the GEER Foundation’s veterinary hospital and kept in a specially designed treatment cage to provide a controlled, low-stress environment.
Human interaction was kept to a minimum and the animal was monitored through distant observation.
“After being brought to Indroda Nature Park in Gandhinagar, the leopard was admitted to the GEER Foundation’s veterinary hospital. A specially designed treatment cage provided a controlled, low-stress environment. Human interaction was minimised, while the animal was monitored through distant observation. Its movement was carefully restricted to prevent further injury to the lumbosacral region. The veterinary team provided intensive daily treatment, including postural management, controlled positioning, nutritional support and feed supplementation,” said Amit Naik, Deputy Director of the GEER Foundation.
The leopard began showing signs of improvement within days. It voluntarily started taking food and water within three days and was passing urine and faeces normally by the fifth day.
Within a week, its aggressive and defensive responses towards approaching personnel had returned, indicating an improvement in its overall strength and behaviour. Around the 20th day, the leopard began raising its body using its forelimbs.
By about the 40th day, it was able to stand on all four limbs, although it continued to struggle to bear weight on its hind limbs. At around two months, it began walking inside the treatment enclosure.
“By approximately the 50th day, its posture had become more natural. At around two months, the leopard began walking inside the treatment enclosure. About two months and 15 days after the accident, it had regained its natural body posture and normal gait,” Naik said.
Despite the recovery, the leopard continues to show slight postural deviation and tail drooping, suggesting some residual effects of the spinal injury.
Authorities, therefore, decided against releasing it into the wild, where difficulties in hunting, movement, territorial defence and avoiding threats could leave it vulnerable.
The leopard will instead remain at Indroda Nature Park, where it will live in a naturalistic environment under appropriate care and supervision.
The park, spread across about 400 hectares in Gandhinagar, is managed by the GEER Foundation.
Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia congratulated the GEER Foundation team for the successful rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of the injured leopard.
Pati said the case demonstrated the importance of timely rescue, advanced diagnostic imaging, specialised wildlife veterinary treatment and prolonged rehabilitation in treating severely injured wild animals.
The case comes as the GEER Foundation expands its wildlife healthcare capabilities. Its veterinary hospital provides healthcare to captive wildlife and supports rescue, rehabilitation and emergency response for free-ranging animals across Gujarat.
The veterinary wing is led by a full-time Wildlife Veterinary Officer with more than 13 years of experience in wildlife healthcare, rescue and emergency management.
A modern wildlife veterinary hospital is also being developed at Indroda Nature Park. The planned facility will include digital radiography, ultrasonography, a dedicated operation theatre, intensive care unit, pathology laboratory, neonatal care unit, outpatient department, recovery rooms, pharmacy and a reference library.
The GEER Foundation veterinary team has carried out more than 10 wildlife rescue, emergency treatment and rehabilitation operations across Gujarat in 2026.
These include the rescue and treatment of three adult leopards from life-threatening situations and specialised referral care for two critically ill leopard cubs.
The team has also undertaken wildlife-safeguarding duties during the movement of the Prime Minister’s convoy at the 52 Wing Air Force Station in Deesa.
The leopard’s recovery has allowed it to regain mobility after a severe spinal injury, but its remaining physical limitations mean its rehabilitation will continue at Indroda rather than in the wild.
–IANS
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