As forest department officials were reportedly catering to some VIPs in the area, the animal had to remain locked in the commercial establishment for nearly 24 hours. When they finally arrived, the leopard was captured without the use of a tranquiliser dart — the standard procedure prescribed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — and put in a cage.
The events that followed shocked wildlife activists and animal lovers alike. Biswajit Mohanty, a member of the National Board for Wildlife, said the forest officials were asked by the district collector to bring the leopard to his residence. “The collector organised a leopard show. People lined up to see the animal — taking photographs. This went on for nearly four hours," Mohanty said in his complaint to the NTCA.
Not accustomed to being in the public glare, the leopard banged itself repeatedly against the sides of the cage — suffering injuries. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
