Leopard caught in leg-hold trap, treated and released

Lakhimpur (Uttar Pradesh), August 3, 2010: A leopard rescued by the state forest department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) staff at Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was released after examination and treatment, on Sunday. Caught in a leg-hold trap set up by unidentified poachers, the leopard was found the previous morning in the buffer zone of the sanctuary. 

Alerted by Sanjay Kumar Pathak, Deputy Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, WTI staff members soon arrived to assist the forest department in rescue efforts. Estimated to have been caught in the trap since midnight on July 31, the animal fortunately suffered only superficial wounds on its forelimb and head and no fractures, the latter known to be a major damage caused by leg-hold traps. But a nightlong struggle with the leg trap had left the animal in an exhausted state.

"The animal responded well to the treatment and it was decided to release it as early as possible. A release site with suitable water and food resources and without any tiger presence was chosen for the leopard. It was released in the sanctuary at 1:42 a.m. on Sunday," said WTI vet Mushtaq Ahmed, based out of Dudhwa and working on human-animal conflict mitigation.

Meanwhile, the authorities are investigating the case. The landowners of the area where the leopard was caught have been questioned in connection with the incident.

This incident comes in the wake of recent discussions over suggested amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) over the definition and classification of traps as weapons and reiterates the threat that leg-hold traps possess to our nation's big cats.