A sub-adult female leopard that got caught in a snare on the outskirts of a village near a forest in the Rajgarh area of Solan district was rescued on Friday evening by a rescue team of the wildlife wing of the Forest Department in Shimla.
The leopard was tranquilised and rescued using a tranquiliser gun. It was later brought to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for Wild Animals at Tutikandi in Shimla by a team headed by Veterinary Officer Dr Namita Sharma late last night. The leopard, aged around two years, had got entangled in the snare, which was made from clutch wire.
Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Shimla, Dr Shahnawaz said the team was sent from Shimla after the concerned DFO requested assistance. “The leopard has got minor injuries in the abdomen as it was caught in the snare. The wild animal is currently under treatment in the RRC, Shimla. Once it recovers, we can release it back in the wild,” he said.
Wild animals rescued from the field are usually brought to the RRC at Tutikandi. Depending on their condition, they are either housed at the centre or released back into the wild.
Some time ago, a female leopard cub was rescued from the Dharampur area. Due to severe injuries, one of its legs had to be surgically amputated. Sources said that since the animal cannot survive in the wild, it has been retained at the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.
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