With 35–40 Pellets in His Skull and No Eyesight, ‘Inder’ the Leopard Reclaims Life in Bhopal; Remembers Entire Enclosure by Scent

Inder, the blind leopard rescued in a critical condition from Indore’s Kamla Nehru Museum, has scripted an extraordinary story of survival and resilience at the Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal. Despite having 35–40 pellets lodged in his skull, total loss of vision, and severe depression, the big cat has now regained remarkable health and energy — even memorising every corner of his enclosure purely through smell.

Found Critically Injured in Nayapura

Inder was discovered in a severely wounded state in Nayapura village (Compartment 222) of Indore forest range. Blood was oozing from his body, and both eyes had lost vision completely. When he was brought to Bhopal for a CT scan on 21 September 2020, doctors found dozens of pellets embedded dangerously close to vital brain regions, making surgery impossible.

Veterinarians said at the time that the leopard was extremely depressed and almost beyond recovery.

Quarantined and Stabilised with Special Care

Former Director Kamalika Maholtra and senior veterinarian Dr. Atul Gupta immediately placed Inder under quarantine at Van Vihar. The goal was to help him recover from depression, trauma, and physical complications.

The team carried out several innovative therapeutic efforts —

• soothing music was played to calm him,
• food was placed at different spots to activate his sense of smell,
• human presence was deliberately reduced to minimise stress.

Used to Sit Frightened in a Corner

Initially, Inder was terrified. He refused food, stayed curled up in a corner, and avoided movement. Yet the caregiving team persisted patiently. Once his mental state began to stabilise, he was shifted to the main housing area, where caretakers Sharmanand Gere and Dilip Batham took over his round-the-clock care.

Teaching a Blind Leopard His New Home

The greatest challenge was helping Inder ‘map’ his new home without eyesight. Food was kept in different spots every day — sometimes even at elevated places, as leopards naturally prefer height. Pathways were kept open to give him freedom of movement.

Within just two months, Inder memorised the entire enclosure using only his sense of smell and touch.

Fully Normal Within Six Months

Six months after his arrival, Inder had fully adapted to his new surroundings. Today, he behaves just like any other healthy leopard in Van Vihar —

• confidently navigating his enclosure,
• recognising outdoor sounds,
• climbing to higher perches,
• and participating actively in all activities.

Inder’s recovery stands as a rare example of resilience, expert care, and the incredible ability of wildlife to adapt and survive against overwhelming odds.