Punjab Forest and the wildlife department are in fix again as, during the rescue of a 7-year-old Leopard, they allegedly attacked on its head and the cat is said to have died that very day. As per Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), the range officer Jaswant allegedly lynched the Leopard in name of rescue. In the video that went viral, it is very well can be seen that none of the department rescue team was wearing safety equipment like helmet, gloves and leg guards. These safety equipment are the first thumb rule while rescuing carnivores.
This is the incident of 17 January from Hoshiarpur Village Sherpur Gulind where a 7-year-old Leopard got trapped in some clutch. The forest department was informed by localities and the Range officer along with other team members appeared at the spot. Jaswant Singh shot a tranquilizer dot to the leopard. This is pertinent to mention here that Jaswant Singh is not part of the Hoshiarpur Forest Department but is designated at the Phillaur forest department as Block Officer of the Phillaur wildlife division. Allegedly, Jaswant Singh and the team without safety equipment did not wait for a leopard to be sedated. and the team allegedly attacked at leopard’s head and it fell down in an unconscious state. Honorary Wildlife Conservator Nikhil Sengar told The Daily Guardian that the department had concealed many key pieces of information regarding this “leopard rescue”. “They misjudged the situation and it was more of a show off of a self prejudiced Block officer over leopard. The Leopard got killed despite being rescued as the department did not release any releasing video of the same leopard. They rather tried to blanket up the situation,” Sengar added.