DALHOUSIE: An ailing leopard was rescued from near human habitat by the forest department and was transferred to the Zoo and Rescue Center in Gopalpur in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh for treatment.
According to reports, the leopard was seen roaming, presumably for hunting, near Dramnalla village in Dhullara panchayat of Dalhousie Forest Division of Chamba district. The village is about one and half hour drive from tourist place Dalhousie .
The presence of leopard scared the local residents and they immediately alerted the forest department.
Rajnish Mahajan, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Dalhousie Forest Division, who led the rescue operation informed that sensing the urgency, his team immediately alerted the local police and the forest staff of Bhattiyat Range was rushed to the spot.
Recognizing the need for specialized expertise, he informed that they contacted DFO (Wildlife), Hamirpur and asked to dispatch a team including veterinarian equipped with tranquillising gun for tranquillising and inspecting the leopard.
Stating that the team arrived within two hours from Gopalpur and the veterinarian Dr. Anshul Chandel tranquillised the leopard which was later physically examined and was found to be having temperature, he said, the diseased and sick animal was subsequently relocated to the Zoo and Rescue Center in Gopalpur.
"The primary objective was to provide the animal with the necessary treatment and care. Once the animal has fully recovered, the ultimate goal is to reintroduce it back into its natural habitat", he said.
Under normal circumstances, carnivorous animals such as leopards exhibit a shy and non-confrontational behavior towards humans.
He said the forest department had advised the villagers living close to forests to keep their premises clean and also to keep their pets in the house during night hours.
