Alipurduar: Now it will be custom beds, blowers and curtains for the leopards of Khairbari Leopard Rehabilitation Centre in the Alipurduar district to beat the winter chill. With the mercury hovering around 12 degree C and expected to dip further, these measures have become necessary to protect its 22 resident leopards.
Leopards like Biman, Madhabi, Tina, Lisa and Mona will soon have custom wooden beds about a foot high-layered with hay. Blowers will maintain warmth in the shelters while heavy curtains will cover the cages at night to block out the chill. Some leopards at the centre are over 12 years old and the Forest department is particularly concerned about their well-being during winter. The preparations began as temperatures in the Alipurduar region started to drop significantly at night. Assistant Wildlife Warden of the Jaldapara Forest Division, Navjeet De, shared details about the initiative. “The wooden cots are being made approximately one foot high and if necessary, we will add a layer of hay. Blowers are also being arranged to keep the shelters warm. While the temperature drops significantly at night, it is manageable during the day. To provide additional warmth, we will lower heavy curtains in front of the cages at night,” he explained.
Khairbari is renowned for caring for leopards rescued from tea gardens and other areas in Alipurduar. It also gained recognition for Raja, a Royal Bengal Tiger, who lived a record span in its care. The centre provides year-round shelter for leopards, managed by a dedicated team led by Parthasarathi Sinha.
Veterinarian Utpal Sharma of Jaldapara National Park emphasised the importance of these measures. “All the resident leopards at Khairbari are healthy. However, like humans, leopards also feel the impact of extreme cold and require warmth during winter. We are optimistic that the leopards will appreciate these specially designed beds,” he said.
The bed-making process has already started, prioritising the oldest leopards in the first phase. Plans are in place to equip all cages with the new beds gradually, ensuring comfort for every leopard as the winter intensifies.