Munish Sood
Mandi
A leopard that had triggered fear among residents of Rehdhar on the outskirts of Mandi town for nearly a month was finally captured by the Forest Department on Friday morning, bringing relief to the local community.
The leopard had emerged as a persistent threat in the area, reportedly k*illing 67 sheep, one goat and one dog during the past month. The repeated attacks had created a sense of insecurity among residents, particularly livestock owners.
The Forest Department launched an intensive surveillance and trapping operation to locate and capture the animal. On the directions of DCF Mandi Sanjeev Sharma, Mandi Range Officer Ajay Chandel constituted a dedicated team under Deputy Ranger Chinta Devi. The team included Forest Guards Hem Raj, Jeevan Singh, Neelma Devi and Pooja Thakur, along with other forest personnel and Van Mitras.
To track the leopard’s movements, the department installed four surveillance cameras and two trapping cages at strategic locations. Continuous monitoring revealed that the animal was particularly active around the Trahu Nala area.
Based on the movement pattern recorded through the cameras, the Forest Department repositioned its trapping strategy and placed two cages at identified locations on Thursday night. Two sheep were kept inside the cages as bait.
The strategy paid off when the leopard was found trapped inside one of the cages early Friday morning. Forest officials and local residents reached the spot soon after the animal was detected.
Confirming the capture, DCF Mandi Sanjeev Sharma said the leopard had been secured and sent to Kangu for a medical examination. Its subsequent course of action will be decided after the medical assessment, he said.
The capture has brought a major sense of relief to residents of Rehdhar, who had been concerned about the safety of people and livestock following a series of attacks. Locals also expressed their appreciation for the Forest Department’s sustained surveillance and efforts to capture the animal.
