Trapped leopard from Kaijaley to be released into wild

Darjeeling: The trapped leopard from Kaijaley is at present lodged at the Bengal Safari near Siliguri. The leopard will be released in the wild later.

"The leopard is in good health. We have sent a report to higher authorities. As per instructions we will release the leopard in the wild," stated Dharam Deo Rai, Director of the Safari Park.

A leopard that had been tormenting the villagers in Lower Kaijaley in the Darjeeling Hills was trapped on Thursday. Villagers of Kaijaley, 2 km from Bijanbari, were spending sleepless nights with leopards taking away their dogs, goats and pigs. Reportedly, two leopards have killed most of the dogs of the village and nearby areas numbering hundred. Then they switched to goats. The two have killed more than 40 goats and pigs also.

Finally the villagers had given a deputation to the forest department. The Forest department had set up a leopard trap in which the leopard was trapped. It had killed the goat that had been used as bait.

The villagers have requested for more traps to trap the other leopard also. The leopard trapped is an adult female. After being trapped it was transported by the wildlife division of the forest department to Bengal Safari near Siliguri.

Incidentally the Park, a brainchild of CM Mamata Banerjee was inaugurated in 2016. It is spread over an area of 290 hectares.

At present, the park has elephants, two Royal Bengal tigers, two leopards, Barking deer, spotted deer, Sambars, a Rhino, six Gharials, a pair of Himalayan Black Bear and birds. The park at present boasts of a herbivore safari, tiger safari, leopard safari, bear safari and elephant safari.