From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: A seven-year old male leopard called Doom was shifted to the Nagaland Zoological Park in Dimapur on Saturday from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), near Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
The CWRC run by Assam Forest Department and International Fund for Animal Welfare -Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI), had been taking care of the leopard since 2006, after it was found alone in a tea garden by locals and handed over to the authorities.
“When we get any animal at the CWRC, our first choice is to look into rehabilitation back in the wild. However, rehabilitation is not an easy option for large carnivores, considering the need for extensive space as they are territorial animals, and also because the chances of conflicts are very high. Particularly so if they have spent very little time in the wild before being brought under human care, as in the case of this cub,” said Dr Rathin Barman, Deputy Director, WTI.
“We are already having a female leopard and this male leopard which we received today will be her mate soon. We are glad and thankful to the Assam Forest Department and WTI for their generous gesture. We expect to continue this good relation in future also.” said, Tongpangzemba Ao, Director of Nagaland Zoological Park.
Dr Anjan Talukdar, Senior Veterinarian at CWRC recalled, “He was only a few months old, shy and weak when he was ‘rescued’ from a tea garden t Doomdooma in eastern Assam and brought to the CWRC. Now he is fully grown, strong, healthy and even a bit aggressive. He should hopefully do well in the new environment in Dimapur.”
The leopard was named Doom as he was rescued from Doom Dooma area in eastern Assam. Sighting of leopards among other animals in tea gardens are common in Assam.
“Wherever sighted, we advise the people not to pick up young wild animal. The mother would generally be nearby and return for them, provided that there is no disturbance. At best, inform the authorities, who can look into the situation and decide on the intervention as required,” added Dr Barman.
