Efforts to locate a wild leopard, spotted near a farmhouse in New Delhi’s Neb Sarai region, have persisted into the third day, with authorities remaining vigilant despite the animal not being sighted since Saturday evening.
The Delhi Forest Department, continuing their operations in Neb Sarai, confirmed that the elusive leopard had not been seen since Saturday evening. However, the department’s teams remain stationed in the area, maintaining readiness and heightened surveillance.
Deputy Conservator of Forest (South Division) Mandeep Mittal conveyed that despite extensive combing of the area, the leopard’s whereabouts remain unknown. “The leopard has not been seen since Saturday evening. We assume it may have returned to its habitat, but our team remains on alert,” Mittal stated, emphasizing their continuous presence in the area.
Mittal further noted the presence of a set cage, an apparatus established earlier in the search operation.
Collaborative efforts involving Delhi Police, the Forest Department, Western Avenue Resident Welfare Association (WARWA), and an NGO, Bail A Tail, conducted a joint search operation on Tuesday afternoon, spanning an hour. However, the animal remained elusive, evading their extensive search efforts.
Reportedly, the leopard was initially sighted on Friday night and Saturday morning near a farmhouse. Despite successive search operations conducted over the weekend and Monday, the animal remained untraceable.
Authorities took precautionary measures, closing exits from three sides and leaving only one path leading towards the jungle open. Speculation arose that the leopard might have retreated into the jungles of the Aravallis, prompting continued alertness in the area.
Even with the use of drones during a search operation on Sunday, the Forest Department failed to spot the elusive leopard, indicating the challenges of tracing the wild animal.
As the search operations persist, authorities remain on high alert, employing various tactics to ensure the safety of residents and monitor the movement of the leopard, underscoring the ongoing efforts to track and secure the area.
Sources By Agencies