The 35-hour-long operation involving more than 100 police personnel, including Haryana Police commandos, and Forest Department officials and staff from Maruti Suzuki Limited’s Manesar plant, ended with the successful rescue of a leopard from the premises here on Friday afternoon.
The six-year-old male feline weighing around 60 kg — one of the largest leopards to be rescued by the Haryana Forest Department in the recent times — was tranquillised around 2 p.m., putting an end to the drama of the past two days.
Almost 12 hours after the nine-foo-long leopard, which was first spotted by a security guard near the company’s Gate No. 2 on about 3.30 a.m. on Thursday, was confined to the Engine Unit. Forest Department officials had cordoned off the area and placed two cages with live baits, hoping to lure the animal inside it during the night. The leopard was caught on a CCTV camera, roaming around the cage at 8 p.m.. But as it did not enter it, rescue teams were forced to rethink their strategy on Friday morning.
“We received good cooperation from the police, the local administration and Maruti company staff. It was one of the most successful operations and the leopard was rescued without any injury,” said Conservator of Forests, South Circle, Vinod Kumar.