• By Imran Zafar
  • Sun, 05 Jan 2025 01:45 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

A wild leopard entered the safari of the Statue of Unity (SoU) complex in Gujarat's Narmada district, killing a blackbuck and causing the deaths of seven others from shock, forest department officials said on Saturday. The incident occurred within Sardar Patel Zoological Park in Ekta Nagar, prompting heightened vigilance by the Forest Department.

The leopard, aged between two and three years, sneaked into the park on the night of January 2, officials said. CCTV footage revealed the leopard roaming Canal Road before leaping over a wall into the herbivore enclosure. A zoo keeper spotted the big cat sitting beside the carcass of a deer. The commotion caused the leopard to flee back into the forest, reported Zee Gujarati.

Forest department teams have been searching the area for 48 hours to locate the animal. "The leopard has not been captured yet," Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Agniveer Vyas stated, adding that leopard movements are common around the safari due to its proximity to the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. However, this marks the first time a leopard entered the fenced park.

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DCF Agniveer Vyas explained that the jungle safari is surrounded by dense forests, covering 75 per cent of Kevadia's periphery. Despite robust fencing and constant CCTV monitoring, the leopard managed to breach the enclosure. 

"The safari park has good CCTV coverage and guards were alerted immediately, which caused the leopard to flee. It preyed on one blackbuck, and seven others succumbed to shock and panic," Vyas said as quoted by Indian Express.

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The safari park was temporarily closed to tourists following the incident but reopened on Saturday. Post-mortem examinations of the dead blackbucks were conducted and the carcasses were cremated as per protocol. The forest department continues its efforts to track and capture the leopard, ensuring the safety of the park's wildlife and visitors.