Leopard Escapes From Sajjangarh Biological Park


Leopard Escapes From Sajjangarh Biological Park

Fear and panic mount as news of the missing animal spreads

 
New time schedule for Sajjangarh Bio-park and sanctuary

Udaipur, October 23, 2024 - In a new and worrisome development, a leopard is believed to have escaped from its cage at the Sajjangarh Biological Park in Udaipur. As per news reports, this was discovered yesterday (October 22) morning by the Park employees who found the cage empty. The forest workers last saw the animal in its cage at 11:00 pm the previous night (October 21). When staff arrived at around 8:00 am the next morning, they found the cage was empty and raised an alarm.

Forest Department workers are said to have spent the entire day searching for the escaped leopard. However, by nightfall, they had not succeeded in finding it. It is believed that the animal could not have gone out of the park. According to reports, Assistant Forest Conservator Ganesh Lal Gothwal stated that it is unlikely that the animal escaped from the Bio Park because of the high walls surrounding the park area, along with the electric fencing on top. However, officials also cannot rule out the possibility that it could have climbed a tree and jumped over the wall.

The search is being conducted within the park and JCB machines are being used to clear the grass to assist in the operations. There are no signs of any breaches in the fencing. The rear part of the bio park, which spans about 36 hectares, is a dense forest, making it difficult for the workers to track down the escaped animal. 

What is very concerning about this incident is that tourists throng the Park throughout the week. And it could be a matter of grave worry if a leopard is on the loose in the park area with tourists around. Yesterday being a Tuesday, the Park was closed to the public. 

This incident has come at a time when a man-eater leopard in Gogunda range has spread fear and terror in the district since the past few weeks.

However, DFO Ajay Chittoda, when talking to UT last evening, did not confirm the rumors, stating, "The Forest Department has shifted the leopard trapped in Lakhawali to the Sajjangarh Biological Park, and it will be examined, but there is no information about any leopard escaping from the Park."

Due to continuous leopard activities in various areas of Udaipur, the local administration has so far captured five leopards in cages. Among them, a leopard was recently trapped in a cage in the Lakhawali area on October 21. Prior to this, on September 23, two leopards were captured in separate cages in Umariya village of Chhali Panchayat. Similarly, on September 27, a leopard was also captured in a cage in the Bhil settlement of Kudau village in Gogunda.

Currently, a total of 18 cages have been set up in Madar and Rathodon ka Guda villages, with 5 in Madar and 13 in Rathodon ka Guda. Monitoring of leopard activities in this area has been intensified. The administration has formed small teams to conduct search operations in the region to safely capture these animals and prevent any untoward incidents.

 

 

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