Ahmedabad: A leopard entered a jungle safari park near Statue of Unity in Gujarat on January 1 and killed a blackbuck, which caused seven other blackbucks to die from shock. Following this, an investigation by the local forest department.
The leopard, aged between 2 and 3 years, breached the well-fenced boundaries of the park, which is located within Kevadia forest division. The park, a popular attraction near the world’s tallest statue, is surrounded by the dense forests of Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, an area known for its leopard population.
What forest officials said
Forest officials reported that the leopard entered the herbivore enclosure and attacked and killed one blackbuck. The remaining seven blackbucks died from shock and panic following the attack. All eight carcasses were examined in post-mortems before being cremated.
Agneeshwar Vyas, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) overseeing Kevadia division, explained that while leopard movements are common in the surrounding forests, this was the first recorded incident of a wild leopard entering the safari park.
Security heightened
The park is monitored 24*7 by more than 400 CCTV cameras, and the leopard’s presence was detected quickly. Security personnel were alerted and responded swiftly, causing the leopard to flee. However, it remains unclear whether the leopard has fully exited the safari park.
Following the incident, the safari park was temporarily closed for 48 hours to ensure safety. It reopened on January 3, but concerns remain about the potential return of the leopard.
