Leopard released in tiger reserve
The six-year-old male leopard that was caught in Rajendrangar on October 11 after keeping forest department officials on their toes for five months, was on Saturday afternoon released in the Amrabad tiger reserve.
The leopard was in the Nehru Zoological Park and was taken to the reserve in Nagarkurnool district in the zoo’s animal rescue van in a cage and released deep inside the forest in the afternoon.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) R. Shobha, Amrabad tiger reserve’s field director A.K. Sinha, zoo curator N. Kshitija and chief veterinarian Dr M.A. Hakeem were present when the animal was released.
In two videos of the release, available with this correspondent, the leopard is seen stepping out of the cage and appears to briefly look at the officials before disappearing into the forest.
A voice is heard saying,
“It is a heavy fellow (sic).” There is a brief moment of doubt when the leopard looks back, but a voice assures that he will go away. This is followed by delighted chuckles when the leopard moves into the forest.
Though the original plan was to release the leopard in the reserve this past Wednesday, the plan was put on hold following the heavy rains in the city and the rest of the state on Tuesday.