Leopard rescued from hunter’s trap Odisha Chhattisgarh border
Forest officials successfully rescued a leopard that had been trapped for nearly a week in a hunter’s snare near Kokodi village along the Chhattisgarh–Odisha border.
The incident came to light during a routine inspection by Gopal Kashyap, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) of Udanti–Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, after local residents alerted authorities.
The rescue team promptly freed the injured leopard and shifted it to the Jungle Safari Hospital for veterinary care.
According to officials, the animal sustained multiple injuries around its neck, leaving it vulnerable to poaching attempts.
Barun Jain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Udanti–Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, confirmed that the leopard is under close medical supervision.
The forest department has urged communities to remain vigilant and report any signs of poaching or illegal traps. Authorities have also launched efforts to trace those responsible for setting the snare.
This incident underscores the importance of community cooperation in preventing wildlife crimes and reducing human–animal conflict in sensitive forest regions.
