Pugmarks sighted, wildlife teams on leopard trail

Patiala, August 29

Over a week after a leopard was first spotted in Ghanaur, officials of the local Wildlife Department continue to remain on toes as the feline was sighted in villages near Patiala.

Officials have formed two teams of 12 members, each headed by a biologist, to rescue the animal.

Eight days ago, the department first reported sighting of a leopard in the Ghanaur belt of Patiala. However, the leopard has now reached Rorewal village near Bhadson road, where it was last seen.

“In order to prevent any untoward incident by the feline, its rescue and rehabilitation is very important and is a cause of concern for all of us,” said officials.

“The leopard is seen regularly in the nearby villages of late. Hence, it has become an important to constitute a district-level rapid rescue team,” said Patiala Divisional Forest Officer Neeraj Gupta.

“We have noticed some pugmarks and are trying to locate it,” he added.

Meanwhile, the department has cautioned people to not fall prey to social media posts claiming that two leopards had strayed into Patiala.

In the past five years, over 50 cases of leopard sighting have been reported in Punjab, while 23 leopards have been rescued by the Wildlife Department. However, there has been no reported case of the wild cat attacking humans.