Video: Leopard released in Aravalli forest a day after Gurgaon village drama
The male leopard, that was caught after it entered a village in Sohna, was released into the forest area on Friday. Veterinarians said the two-and-a-half year old leopard was fit to be released into the wild.
The two-and-a-half year-old male leopard that strayed into the urban areas of Sohna on Thursday, was released into the Aravalli forest on Friday. While the forest officials did not reveal the exact time and area, they said the leopard was released 60km away from the spot where it had been caught.
According to the wildlife department veterinarians, the leopard was fit to be released into the wild. Vets at the wildlife wing said that any wild animal could be released into the forest area if it did not show any irregular behaviour. “It is in the interest of humans as well as the animal that we release it in its natural habitat,” said Ashok Sharma, veterinary doctor.
Wildlife experts agreed that there are chances that the wild animals can enter human habitation in the region because of large scale mining and a paucity of water.
“Such cases are not isolated any more here. We will have to develop a mechanism to co-exist and deal with the wildlife. We are even requesting people to create water holes outside village areas so that these animals do not enter the villages for water,” said Shyam Sunder Kaushik, divisional forest officer, wildlife, Gurgaon.
Similarly, a three-and-a-half year-old male leopard was also released into Aravallis on December 29 by the wildlife department after it entered into mustard fields near Malaka village of Tauru, 40 kms from Gurgaon.
However, the rescue operation in Sohna was important for the wildlife wing as on November 24, a leopard was beaten to death by the villagers when it strayed into Mandawar village in Gurgaon. A dozen of people were injured in the process. The two-and-a- half year-old male leopard was killed even as the forest and police officials were present in the village.