Snow leopard rescued from power project in Kinnaur district

A snow leopard, which was spotted for the first time in Kinnaur district, was safely rescued from the 120 MW Sanjay Hydroelectric Project, Bhaba Nagar, Kinnaur. The elusive big cat, which is mostly found in the snowy mountains of the state, was reportedly found trapped inside the filter inlet of the project.

The snow leopard was spotted by the project officials who immediately informed the Forest Department. A team from the Forest Department rushed to the spot.

Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shekhar, along with a rescue team from Rampur Bushahr, also reached the project site.

A multi-layered rescue plan was implemented to safely rescue the animal. The teams first tried to encourage the leopard to climb out on its own and also set up a ladder. However, the plan proved unsuccessful. After some initial hesitation, the leopard eventually climbed out by itself and was seen walking calmly along the parapet. The animal than ran into the nearby forest.

As per the forest officials, snow leopards are generally found in high-altitude snowy peaks and are rarely seen in Kinnaur. “Sighting of the snow leopard clearly indicates that its presence in the Bhabha valley is increasing. This is a positive sign from the perspective of biodiversity,” said Paramanand Darek, Forest Range Officer, Bhabha Nagar.