Leopard caught in wire trap freed, vets to examine it today

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 8

Wildlife officials of Kangra today rescued a leopard that was caught in a wire trap in the Fatehpur area near Dharamsala.

Upasana, Chief Conservator Forest (Wildlife), Kangra, said that they received information this morning that a leopard was caught in a wire trap in the Fatehpur area. A team of wildlife officials from the Gopalpur zoo reached the spot and found that about an around 8-year-old male leopard was caught in the trap. The team tranquilised the wild cat, rescued it and brought it to the Gopalpur zoo.

The injured leopard regained consciousness. Veterinary doctors would assess its injuries tomorrow. In case, the injuries are superficial, the leopard would be treated and released in the forest but if the injuries are serious, it would be kept in the zoo, she said.

Asked if the wire trap was set up by poachers, Upasana said that the matter was being inquired into.

The poachers generally set up traps made of clutch wires of two-wheelers in areas near forests to catch birds or other animals, which come down from higher hills to lower hills during the winter. The trap keeps on getting tighter as the animal tries to free itself, causing deep injuries to the neck.

Earlier, too, leopards have been caught in such traps set up by poachers. Last year, a leopard had died after getting caught in a wire trap in the Dhaliara area of Kangra district.