Weak,traumatised and dehydrated,but still recovering well that is the condition of the leopard that was stuck for almost a fortnight underneath the Indian Air Force base. The leopard is under observation at the Chhatbir Zoo. A final decision is yet to be taken on whether it would be kept at the zoo or returned to the forest. Forest officials say the rescue operation carried out on Thursday night was unique as the animal survived the aftermath of tranquilisation. We have put the leopard under observation for 72 hours. Next three days are going to be very crucial and our focus is primarily on its quicker recovery,only then can we decide what is to be done about its habitat, said Chhatbir Zoo director Basant Raj. A team of veterinary experts,which was assigned to diagnose the injured carnivore,said stomach of the leopard had shrunk because of prolonged starvation. We have put the male leopard on timely medication for five days in form of injections and antibiotics. Once-a-day meal like buffalo meat and chicken will be fed after 12 hours of sedation. But chances of infection are very high. Thats precisely the reason for its having been put in the restricted area of Chhatbir Zoo, said the vet officer. The leopard is out of danger. Generally in such cases,the animals are sent to the nearest national forest area,but unfortunately,the place from where it came is still unknown. Hence,it is too early to decide on anything, said chief wildlife warden Santosh Kumar. Previously leopards have strayed into urban areas,with the recent case of a leopard getting trapped in a house in Sector 10,Panchkula. Though leopards have wandered into human habitation as a result of shrinking of its own habitat,the desperate need for prey like goats and dogs has drawn them to urban areas.
