Leopard strays into posh Jammu locality, injures three
An adult leopard on Tuesday strayed into a posh locality of Jammu and attacked and injured three persons including two Wildlife Department officials before being captured in a rescue operation lasting over two hours. Two wildlife officials, including a doctor, and a civilian were injured in the attack by the beast, the presence of which caused panic among people in the Gandhi Nagar locality.
A crowd of onlookers filmed the operation
"The full-grown leopard attracted a crowd of curious onlookers, seen using their mobile phones to record the operation despite repeated appeals by authorities to disperse for their safety," officials said.
Rescue teams tranquilized the leopard, shifted it to Manda Zoo
"We received a call about the presence of the leopard at a green belt area of Gandhi Nagar around 11:30 am and rushed rescue teams with tranquilizer guns and cages," Jammu's Wildlife Warden Anil Kumar Atri told PTI. He said the rescue teams managed to tranquilize the leopard and shifted it to Manda Zoo around 2 pm.
A civilian suffered serious injuries on his face and head
In the process, a wildlife doctor and a helper were injured by the leopard and were hospitalized. "A civilian, who was the first to be attacked by the animal, suffered serious injuries on his face as well as on his head," a police official said, adding that he was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital.
The leopard was spotted by a gardener inside the park
The police official said that the police parties from Gandhi Nagar Police Station also joined the rescue operation and tried to keep away the people. "The leopard was spotted by a gardener inside the park and following that the Wildlife Department was informed immediately," the official said. Notably, the leopard had ventured into the city from the nearby forest last week.
Leopard had ventured into Jammu city from the nearby forest
"The beast was later spotted in the Bahu Fort area of Jammu city after which the people in the locality and adjoining areas were asked to remain cautious," the officials said.
