Successful rescue of leopard and hunter arrested due to alertness of Katghora forest division.

Raipur : Under the effective efforts of the Forest and Climate Change Department and the guidance of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Katghora Forest Division has set a commendable example in the field of wildlife conservation. The accused poacher has been arrested after successfully rescuing a trapped leopard in Pali area, which shows the success of the department’s quick action, modern technology and teamwork.

It is noteworthy that on the night of 9 February, information was received in Lafa beat of Pali region that a young leopard was trapped in a trap set by a hunter. As soon as the information was received, a special team was formed under the leadership of Divisional Forest Officer Shri Kumar Nishant. Despite the difficult mountain path and the aggressive condition of the leopard, the team decided to carry out an immediate rescue.

adventurous rescue operation

After permission from higher officials, veterinarian Dr. Chandan and his team were called from Bilaspur. At around 10.40 pm the leopard was safely tranquilised and within a few minutes it was taken out of the clutch wire noose. The injured leopard was given first aid and sent to Kanan Pandari for better treatment. The next day, the dog squad team was called from Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. The team collected clues from the spot and reached the house of the accused. Wires and other materials used in hunting were recovered from there. During interrogation, accused Vijay Kumar Gond confessed to the crime, after which he was sent to jail on the orders of the court.

When the leopard’s condition improved after treatment, it was safely released back into the forest with the advice of experts. Before release, other traps were checked by carrying out anti-snare walk in the area and trap cameras and monitoring system were strengthened. This success shows that wildlife conservation is being given top priority in Chhattisgarh. The forest department’s prompt response, scientific methodology and coordinated efforts not only saved the life of a wild animal but also sent a strong message to those committing wildlife crimes that such crimes will no longer be tolerated.