Leopard spotted in Chandigarh’s Sector 5, tranquillised

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 30

A leopard was successfully tranquillised after being spotted roaming around in Sector 5 in Chandigarh on Monday morning.

After the wild cat was spotted at 8.15 am, the Chandigarh Police and the Wildlife department were alerted. 

The feline was trapped by forest officials after hectic efforts of over five hours.

The leopard got injured during the trapping operation.

With the prevailing eerie silence owing to the curfew to limit the spread of coronavirus, the leopard from the nearby Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary entered the city in the wee hours and was spotted in a Sector 5 residential area.

The police reached the spot and asked locals to stay away from the wild cat.

The leopard kept hiding for about five hours before being tranquilised, said a forest official.

A few days back, sambars were spotted in residential areas located close to the sanctuary. They were caught on cameras by locals as they were roaming fearlessly.

The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, adjoining the rain-fed Sukhna Lake, spreads over 25.42 sq km. It is home to a variety of butterflies, birds and mammals like the wild boar, pangolin, mongoose, deer and the Indian civet, besides snakes like the Indian python and Russell’s viper.

The city is currently under a curfew to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Quieter streets across India has allowed wild animals to venture into cities. While Conoor residents reportedly spotted sloth bears, Delhi residents have seen peacocks move about freely. An Indian civet was spotted in Kerala. — With agency inputs