Leopard rescued from cowshed after midnight entry
In a successful wildlife rescue, a leopard that entered a cowshed in Jala village, Mandi district, was safely captured and returned to the wild. The big cat was spotted around midnight by villagers, who quickly alerted local authorities. In response, Block Officer Umeed Singh and Forest Guard Surabhi conducted an initial assessment overnight.
A specialised rescue team from the Kullu Wildlife Division, led by veterinary officer Dr Subramaniyam, arrived early in the morning along with pharmacist Chaman Lal, animal attendants Desh Raj and Jai Parkash, and peon Kamal. The team managed to safely tranquilise and capture the leopard after two hours of careful efforts.
Key officials, including Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Mandi Vasu Doegar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Wildlife Kullu Rajesh, and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Mandi Navjot Singh, supervised the rescue to ensure safety for both the leopard and team members. DCF Doegar confirmed that the leopard was safely released back into the forest.
The Forest and Wildlife Divisions expressed gratitude to the villagers for their timely response, underscoring the importance of community cooperation in wildlife conservation. This operation highlights effective teamwork between local communities and forest officials in safeguarding Himachal Pradesh’s wildlife.
