Jaipur, 28 November: A leopard that had been prowling through several populated localities of Jaipur over the past two days was finally tranquillised and rescued late Thursday night by forest officials, after it was discovered hiding inside a shop in the Chandpole area of the city.
How the Rescue Unfolded
According to officials, the wild cat was first spotted on Thursday morning in the Shastri Nagar area, and earlier on Tuesday night in Vidyadhar Nagar. On Wednesday, CCTV footage captured the leopard walking across a road in Kalyan Colony and later along a rooftop near Sikar House sightings that triggered alert among local authorities.
Late Thursday night, a shop in a residential building near Chandpole became the focal point. The shopkeeper upon realizing the presence of the animal quickly pulled down the shutter, effectively trapping the leopard inside, and alerted the police and forest department.
A rescue operation began around 11:00 pm and, after approximately three intense hours, the animal was successfully tranquilised and rescued.
Fear Among Residents
News of the leopard’s movements had stirred panic among people across various localities. Many residents reportedly stayed indoors after several sightings. Dedicated teams from the forest department carried out searches across Shastri Nagar, Nehru Nagar and nearby areas, but initial attempts failed to locate the animal.
Local residents from Vidyadhar Nagar recalled that on Tuesday night, dogs had barked continuously, and the next morning a calf was found dead. CCTV footage from that night later confirmed the leopard’s presence in that locality.
Source From Forest to City
Authorities suspect the leopard entered the city from the nearby Nahargarh forest zone, which lies in proximity to the affected areas including Swarn Jayanti Park, Shastri Nagar, Vidyadhar Nagar and others.
The city also hosts the Jhalana–Amagarh Leopard Conservation Reserve, another known habitat for leopards, home to a sizeable population. Experts attribute the rising number of urban sightings to a combination of growing leopard population, reduced natural prey near forest fringes, and rapid urban expansion encroaching forest boundaries.
Context: A Pattern of Increasing Encounters
This is not an isolated incident. Just last week, another leopard had entered Jaipur’s secure Civil Lines area even gaining access to a minister’s bungalow and a school before being tranquilised.
Localities near forested zones such as Malviya Nagar, Jagatpura, Vidyadhar Nagar, Shastri Nagar and Jaisinghpura have increasingly reported leopard sightings in recent years. Experts warn that this trend reflects growing human-wildlife interactions which call for increased vigilance and better management by authorities.
What This Means
- For residents: The sudden appearance of a leopard in densely populated areas including shops, rooftops and residential streets underscores the urgency for awareness and caution, especially in zones adjoining forests.
- For authorities: There is a clear need for structured urban-wildlife management, rapid response protocols and community awareness drives to prevent panic and ensure safety.
- For conservationists: The incident highlights the delicate balance between growing leopard populations and urban sprawl. Conservation measures must be matched with habitat protection and prey availability to reduce forced wildlife intrusion into cities.