Leopard That Killed 2 Persons Rehabilitated in Sambalpur Zoo

Sambalpur: A male leopard that had killed two persons and injured another in Nuapada district in 2023 has been relocated in the Sambalpur Zoo.

This man-eater wild leopard was captured on November 5, 2023. On November 8, 2023, it was shifted to the Sambalpur Zoo’s Rescue Centre under the Hirakud Wildlife Division.

This rescued leopard, aged around seven years, has been paired with a female leopard in the Sambalpur Zoo on September 9, 2024. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has approved this pairing as well as the display of the leopard.

The display of this leopard for the public started at the zoo on October 1, 2024. But for the time being, the two leopards will be displayed alternately, with separate public viewing times.

The leopards are housed in separate chambers within the same night house, allowing them to become acquainted over time. The zoo authorities will monitor their behavior for the next 2-3 months before deciding if they can be released together.

As part of the preparations for the new pairing, Sambalpur Zoo expanded the leopard enclosure in 2023 to cover 550 square meters, accommodating the increased number of leopards. In 2024, a glass viewing facility was added to the enclosure, offering visitors an improved experience.