Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat residents rescue stranded leopard from 20-foot-deep well

Timely intervention by residents of Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh and the State Forest Department led to the rescue of a female leopard trapped at the bottom of a 20-foot-deep open well.

The resident became aware of the feline when they inspected an open well from which screeching sounds were coming. They were shocked to see a stranded leopard in the dry well. Worried about its safety, they immediately called up the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department who roped in the Wildlife SOS rescue team for the operation.

The rescue teams on reaching the spot realised that bringing out the animal from the open well would be a tough operation. Due to the narrow width of the well, the team was unable to lower a trap cage to bring the leopard out of it. A Wildlife SOS veterinary doctor first tranquilised the distressed animal and once it was immobilised, a team member wearing protective gear went down the well using a ladder and hauled out the leopard with the help of a safety net.

Before transferring the animal into the transport cage, the Wildlife SOS veterinary team conducted an on-site examination of the leopard, checking for any bruises or injuries. They found it to be a 6-year-old female who will be released into the wild once deemed fit.

Talking about the operation, Dr Hemant Kumar Seth, District Forest Officer, Baghpat said: “We are happy to have been able to rescue the leopard in a timely manner and ensure its safety.”

Expressing satisfaction on completion of the rescue, Baiju Raj M.V, Director- Conservation Projects, Wildlife SOS said: “We are grateful to the Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttar Pradesh who issued all necessary permissions in a timely manner and allowed swift action to be taken for the safety of the leopard.”