Leopards to be relocated in West Bengal

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Dec.20 (ANI): Three leopards will be shifted from the Khayerbari animal rescue centre of West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District to the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata.

The shifting leopards came on the sidelines of the special provision of the Central Zoo Authority of India, The three leopards were rescued from the adjacent tea gardens of Doars.

"Three leopards will be transferred from the Khayerbari animal rescue centre to the Alipore Zoo according to the instructions of the Central Zoo Authority. We can't do it by ourselves. When orders come from the authorities we perform our task. Such transfers are done if there is provision or need of such things and can happen in future too," said V. K. Sood, the Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), North Bengal.

Three leopards aged around two-and-half years are scheduled to leave for their respective destinations before Christmas.

The leopards are being transferred because three cages are empty in the Alipore Zoo.

The caretaker at the rescue centre said the leopards are generally brought to the centre as cubs

"These leopards come to the rescue centre as young cubs. We take care of them and feed them milk from a bottle as they grow. They grow up in the rescue centre but when they are transferred from the rescue centre, it feels bad. But we can't do anything because it is the government's order," said Hamizul Islam, a caretaker at the Khayerbari animal rescue centre.

At present the rescue center is taking care of 18 leopards.

The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) is a body of the Central Government responsible for overseeing the functioning of zoos. By Rik Sundar Sasmal (ANI)