Jaipur, 11 Dec 2025: A leopard sighting at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) campus triggered widespread alarm among students and staff on Tuesday, as the wild animal wandered near a hostel area before taking refuge inside a campus building.
The presence of the leopard was first noticed in the morning, with CCTV footage reportedly capturing its movement around the campus vicinity, including near hostel blocks. Upon receiving reports, college authorities swiftly evacuated the affected building and alerted the Rajasthan Forest Department.
Forest officials cordoned off the area and launched a search and rescue operation, which lasted approximately three hours. The team used nets, traps and tranquilizers to track the animal, which was eventually found hiding inside the VLTC building on campus. After being tranquillised for safety, the leopard was successfully captured and taken into the care of the forest department.
Officials suspect the leopard may be a cub of a female leopard known to frequent the greenery near the institute, as similar movement footprints had been spotted around the campus in recent days.
College authorities have advised students and staff to remain vigilant and avoid isolated areas over the next 24 hours while wildlife teams continue monitoring nearby zones.
This incident occurs amid increasing reports of leopards entering residential and urban areas around Jaipur, prompting enhanced wildlife management efforts by the authorities.