Daring Leopard Rescue Highlights Mounting Wildlife Crisis

A leopard trapped in a poacher's snare on the Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand border was rescued after 12 hours. The incident highlighted the rising poaching crises as authorities increased surveillance and issued guidelines to curb such activities. In another event, a leopard attacked a dog, raising community concerns.

A leopard trapped in a poacher's snare near the Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand border was successfully rescued by a team from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in Pilibhit and forest officials from the Khatima Range. The leopard, discovered in Bhagchuri village, was stuck for nearly 12 hours before being moved to the Surai Range for monitoring.

The incident drew a large crowd of villagers, leading authorities to deploy police for crowd control. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Manish Singh confirmed that the trap fell under Uttarakhand's jurisdiction. As the forest department increased surveillance, officials warned that poachers are using advanced techniques to trap wildlife.

In a separate incident, a leopard attacked a pet dog in Banjaria village, prompting residents to raise alarms about frequent leopard sightings and slow official response. The incidents spotlight the increasing challenges of managing human-wildlife conflict in the region.