Leopard rescued in South Delhi

Leopard rescued in South Delhi
TNN | Feb 6, 2013, 01.33 AM IST

NEW DELHI: An injured adult leopard was rescued from Chhatarpur in south Delhi on Tuesday following a seven-hour rescue operation.

The wild leopard, which possibly strayed from Aravali Hills, was spotted jumping over the 15ft-high wall of a farmhouse in Chhatarpur DLF farms by a guard early in the morning. The leopard got impaled on the metal spikes at the top of the wall and was trapped there for a long time.

A team of trained rescue members from Wildlife SOS along with Dr Prabhakaran of Friendicoes SECA, Delhi Police and the fire department had worked for seven hours before transporting the seriously injured animal to the hospital in the Delhi zoo. "The animal is in a grave condition and requires extensive treatment. We hope it recovers and survives," said Prabhakaran.

The Delhi Zoo was not contactable initially and therefore Wildlife SOS arranged to get a leopard transport cage from their rescue center in Gurgaon and the team worked in the pouring rain to tranquilize the leopard and remove it from a 15 foot high wall and transport it to the safety of the veterinary hospital in the Delhi Zoo.

"This leopard in south Delhi clearly indicates that there is serious conflict between humans and leopards in this region. Destruction of their habitat displaces these big cats and they are left with nowhere to go. Delhi Police Officer Lakram Singh was present during the entire operation and we are grateful for the support of the Police" said Geeta Seshamani, Co founder of Wildlife SOS

Dr Prabhakaran of Friendicoes said "the leopard is very severely injured as the metal spikes have completely impaled the front and rear leg and it is in a serious condition. The bone and the muscles are exposed on the rear leg and the other legs are also injured from the animal struggling in an attempt to escape. The animal is in a grave condition and requires extensive treatment. We have given it tetanus vaccination and painkillers. We hope it recovers and survives"

The Wildlife SOS and Friendicoes Team transported the rescued leopard along with a Delhi Police Vehicle escort to the Delhi Zoo whereDr Paneerselvam and Range Officer Manoj Kumar coordinated the housing of the leopard in the Veterinary hospital.

The Wildlife SOS Helpline works with the guidance of the Chief Wildlife Warden Delhi and the Delhi WIldlife Dept to rescue wildlife in distress.

It is sad that leopards have no prey available in the aravalis and are trying to figure out how to survive. The forests had got converted into farmhouses and now these farmhouses are much sought after. With the barbed wires on top, the leopards find it very difficult to negotiate those wires and get stuck. There was another incident in mysore last year where a leopard was impaled while trying to climb a fence.

Unfortunately, our focus is on the wellbeing of one animal. We lose sight of the original reason why the leopard has been forced to come to the farmhouse.