Cameras up at Chhatarpur after leopard ‘sightings’

New Delhi: After receiving complaints from locals about the presence of suspected leopard sighting at a farm in Chhatarpur, the forest and wildlife department on Friday installed two camera traps in the area and deployed a team. Though no pugmarks have been found, forest officials said they were scanning the area.
According to an official, the department first received a complaint on Wednesday about an alleged sighting near Sultanpur Metro depot.“A team inspected the site, but found no pugmarks. After we received a fresh complaint on Friday, we installed two camera traps at a Chhatarpur farm.Our team is on the spot, but leopard or its pugmarks are yet to be spotted.”
The forest department also took assistance from NGO Wildlife SOS, which has been involved with animal rescues in the region. A team was called to scout the area and look for signs of the big cat. “We were called in on Friday evening. The area will be scanned for possible signs of the leopard,” said an NGO official. The NGO also installed a trap cage in the area on Friday.
The complainants provided a video claiming that a leopard strayed there, but the forest department said the animal could not be identified in the video, which was shot from a distance.
Rajesh Kataria, general manager, DLF Chattarpur Farms, said, “A few residents spotted the leopard and also managed to shoot a video. I lodged the complaint with the forest department and shared the clip. A team of experts arrived and are combing the area.”
Delhi is no stranger to leopard sightings. In the last week of January, the forest department had confirmed the presence of a leopard in Najafgarh after its pugmarks were spotted at a village and near the drain. Even a cage was placed. However, the officials said the leopard returned to the place from where it came.
In December 2016, a leopard was spotted at Yamuna Biodiversity Park in north Delhi. The animal was captured by the wildlife department and released in another state. A leopard family is also said to be living currently in the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.