Forest officials in Rudrapur have successfully captured a leopard at the historic Dronasagar fort premises. The operation took place on Friday, bringing relief to residents after weeks of repeated sightings and growing concerns.
Weeks of Concern Lead to Action
Residents reported frequent movement of the leopard in and around the fort area. This prompted the forest department to implement restrictions and precautionary measures. Officials decided to install a cage at the site to trap the big cat following several confirmed sightings.
Coordinated Nightlong Operation
Teams from the forest department worked closely with the archaeology department to carry out a nightlong monitoring operation on Friday. They maintained hours of vigilance before finally capturing the leopard.
The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of key officials:
- Archaeology department superintendent Mohan Chandra Joshi
- Conservation assistant in-charge Dinesh Kumar Sharma
- Forest ranger Devendra Singh
Next Steps for the Captured Leopard
Forest ranger Devendra Singh confirmed that the leopard will undergo medical tests. "After assessing the health condition, it will be released in a dense part of the forest away from human habitation," he stated.
Continued Surveillance Planned
Forest officials emphasized that surveillance in the area will continue. They want to ensure there is no presence of other wild animals that might pose similar concerns for residents.
The successful capture operation has brought much-needed peace to the Rudrapur community while demonstrating effective coordination between different government departments working to protect both wildlife and human populations.
