Leopard Rescued from Sweet Shop in Daman After Eight-Hour Operation by Forest Officials

A leopard was rescued from a sweet shop in Daman after an eight-hour operation involving tranquillising guns and nets. The animal was aggressive, injuring one forest official. A rapid response team was called to assist in the rescue.

A leopard was successfully rescued from a sweet shop in Nani Daman after an intense eight-hour operation, according to forest officials. The Forest Department received a report at 11:30 am about the leopard's presence in the shop. Police and forest officials quickly arrived, securing the area, as stated by Deputy Conservator of Forests Harshraj Wathore.

The leopard was discovered on the third-floor staircase during the rescue. The team employed tranquilliser guns, nets, and a cage to capture it. Despite these efforts, the animal remained aggressive and attempted to attack the rescuers several times, Wathore noted. A forest staff member suffered minor injuries and was hospitalised but is now stable.

Leopard's Aggressive Behaviour

Due to the challenging situation, the Valsad Forest Department was alerted. A rapid rescue team from Dahanu, Maharashtra, was also summoned. This team managed to tranquillise the leopard successfully. The animal will be placed in a trap cage and relocated to an undisclosed location for safety reasons, Wathore explained.

Senior officials, including District Collector Saurabh Mishra, were present during the operation. The leopard had been seen in urban areas of Daman over the previous two days. It was last spotted near Dhobi Talav on Monday night before entering the sweet shop.

The operation highlighted the challenges faced by wildlife officials in urban settings. The presence of senior officials underscored the seriousness of the situation. The successful rescue ensured public safety and demonstrated effective coordination between various departments involved in wildlife management.

With inputs from PTI