Clouded Leopard Captured in Jorhat After Preying on Livestock
Clouded Leopard Trapped in Jorhat
The captured clouded leopard in Jorhat (AT Image)
Jorhat, Oct 23: A clouded leopard was captured in the Cinnamara Baghdhora region of Jorhat on Thursday night after it had reportedly been hunting domestic animals for several days, leading local residents to notify the Forest Department.
Forest officials stated that a baited trap was established in response to complaints about the leopard's attacks on livestock. The animal was lured into the cage by a duck used as bait and was subsequently caught.
This female clouded leopard is estimated to be approximately two-and-a-half years old. A team from the Jorhat Regional Forest Officer's office transported the animal to the forest office the following day.
A forest ranger mentioned that they had received reports regarding the leopard's movements and its predation on domestic animals over the past week, which prompted the installation of the cage in Cinnamara Baghdhora.
“After learning about the leopard's troubling behavior of hunting cattle for a week, we set up a baited cage with a duck. The leopard entered to eat the duck and became trapped. It is a female, around two-and-a-half years old. We have notified higher authorities and will release it as directed,” stated forest ranger Guneshwar Bora.
The ranger further noted that clouded leopards are still present in various areas of Jorhat and are typically released in Kaziranga National Park after capture, depending on departmental guidelines.
Since the ranger took charge six months ago, five clouded leopards have been captured in Jorhat. Previously, a male leopard that had been entering human habitats and attacking livestock was caught by the Forest Department at Tilikiam Tea Estate in western Jorhat on July 8.