Rare sighting of leopard with two cubs in Dahod

Vadodara: The census of carnivores in the Baria range of Dahod district sprung a major surprise for the forest officials. A trap camera installed in the forests behind a college in Devgadh Baria recorded three leopards drinking water from a waterhole at the same time.
Officials believe that the three big cats included a female leopard and her two cubs. While it is not out of place to see a female leopard with cubs if the cubs are very young. In this case the cubs were 1-1.5 years old.
“The cubs are subadult and these may be the last phase when they are with their mother before separating from her. Leopards are territorial animals and not social cats who stay together. Usually by this age they separate from their mother,” said in-charge deputy conservator of forests Prashant Tomar.
The watering hole near Chandal Talav has been made by the forest department for wild animals. “The footage was recorded by a trap camera installed near the watering hole. Since the leopards were not disturbed they spent time drinking water there and left,” said Tomar.