Poultry-hunting leopard finds new home in Intangki

February 20, 2021 62 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 19

A leopard with a taste for poultry and pets was captured alive at a village in Mokokchung and relocated to safer hunting grounds. According to official sources, an adult male leopard was captured by villagers in Tsuremmen village, falling under Longchem EAC Circle on February 14 to be released into the Intangki National Park.

The sources said that it has been over three months since the village started reporting missing poultry, pets and even livestock. It was later discovered that the enigmatic culprit was a lone leopard that was intruding into the village looking for food.

The villagers finally thought up a plan to put an end to the hungry predator’s exploits by deciding to capture it alive and hopefully finding new hunting ground for him.

On February 14, the leopard was baited into a trap set up not far from the village periphery. He was contained, fed and cared for by the villagers for almost three days, while the Department of Forests and Wildlife was informed of the development.

Tokaho H Kinimi, Wildlife Warden, Dimapur, confirmed to The Morung Express that the Divisional Forest Officer, Mokokchung received the information on February 17 after which a Tranquilizing Unit from the Wildlife Division, Dimapur was immediately dispatched.

Kinimi informed that it was decided to relocate the leopard to a secure location through Vepal Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland.

After medical examination by veterinarian Dr T R Wati, Animal Health Centre, Dimapur, Nagaland, the animal was escorted by staff of Intangki National Park and Wildlife Division, Dimapur to Intangki National Park where it was safely released in good health, it was informed.

The leopard was transported by road to Dimapur on February 18 and released a few kilometers inside Intangki National Park by Forests & Wildlife officials today.

Wildlife officials expressed optimism that the leopard would find prey and company as Intangki is known to have leopard population.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/poultry-hunting-leopard-finds-new-home-in-intangki