Leopards do not need to announce their presence. They simply move through their world with quiet confidence and remarkable skills. Simba magnificently defines the characteristics of his feline species. He is a silent spectator with unhurried movements. But when he suddenly springs into action, he reminds our team of the agility and strength leopards proudly possess.
[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Akash Dolas]
Simba’s story with Wildlife SOS began after the Maharashtra Forest Department informed us about a leopard cub, far too young to be all alone, found near a village by locals. He was just two months old, helpless and without his mother. Without her guidance for at least the first two years of his life, the chances of the cub surviving the wild would be bleak. After several attempts of reuniting the baby went in vain, it was decided to hand over the small cub’s long-term care to Wildlife SOS at its Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre (MLRC).
[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Akash Dolas]
The infant leopard was named Simba after the young cub from the beloved film, The Lion King. Now five years old, Simba has grown up well at MLRC — he has learned to climb here, learned to play here, and learned to be a true-blue leopard here. He has truly lived up to his name as a strong and decisive, yet gentle and compassionate large cat. .
Simba’s Favourite Corner
At MLRC, Simba leads a life that is richly and uniquely his own. His days are active, his routine is steady, and his personality shines with curiosity. Caregivers find every interaction with Simba both an opportunity and a privilege to witness his wild and natural behaviour that he carries out with finesse.
Ask any caregiver about where one can find Simba, and the answer is almost always the same: the lushest corridor of his enclosure that exists on one side. In this preferred stretch, he chooses to either move in a charming way or actively play around.
Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Akash Dolas]
A large part of Simba’s day is spent engaging with the various enrichments in his enclosure. These include wooden ladders, logs, an elevated platform, branches of trees, shrubs and open greenery. With his strategic instincts intact, it takes just a swift leap for Simba to reach the top of his platform. His inherent skill and fondness for climbing is evident as he quickly scales his wooden ladder. He also has a special relationship with a rope tied to this: he invests much of his time batting it, tugging it, and swinging it around.
In an environment that is akin to a forest, the young leopard, once a cub hanging by a thread to survive, has found his safe and forever home.
Good Neighbours
Simba has Aditi and Shivshree as his close neighbours. While leopards are naturally solitary, the three share something rare and special. Although they reside in separate enclosures, they regularly interact with one another in a friendly manner. Caregivers have observed that these exchanges are frequent and always harmonious. Simba is familiar with the people caring for him as well, and he remains comfortable in the presence of caregivers and veterinarians at the centre.
[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Akash Dolas]
Health & Welfare
Simba has grown up to be a healthy leopard. His well-being is upheld through a comprehensive and proactive veterinary programme. The Wildlife SOS team conducts regular medical examinations to ensure any concern can be timely caught and treated.
As part of his preventive healthcare routine, Simba receives annual vaccinations to protect himself against a range of infections and feline diseases. Along with every leopard under our care, Simba undergoes scheduled deworming every three months, and faecal analysis as well. Together, these measures form a strong shield to secure his welfare.
[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Akash Dolas]
Simba’s diet also remains consistent and well-suited to his needs. As soon as he gets his meal, Simba picks it up and carries it to his elevated wooden platform in his enclosure. In the wild, carrying food up to a height to eat it without any threat from other carnivores is an inherited custom for leopards. It also helps them to feed themselves at their own pace. Such behaviour explains how among all the wild big cats of the world, leopards are the ones blessed with the flexibility and prowess to climb.
The dedication to his well-being extends well beyond routine care. Every summer, as temperatures rise across Maharashtra, the Wildlife SOS team switches on water sprinklers across the enclosures at MLRC, ensuring that Simba and all the other rescued leopards stay cool and comfortable through the hottest months. It is one of many ways the team works to make certain that life at the centre is comfortable for Simba.
[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Akash Dolas]
From a vulnerable cub to a strong young leopard, Simba’s journey with us reflects the importance of timely care and a thoughtfully managed environment. His confidence, his curiosity to explore his surroundings, his daily self-grooming rituals, his ability to climb heights and keep a watch over his world from there — all are reassuring signs of how his surroundings are nurturing his natural behaviour. If you’d like to support the care of leopards like Simba at MLRC, consider making a donation today.
Feature Image: Akash Dolas/ Wildlife SOS
