The Bhutanese Leading the way.
A female common leopard weighing about 30 kilograms and measuring100 centimetres in length was rescued from a snare it had entangled itself into near the Phobjikha Central School in Wangdue district on May 23.
The snare had been set up by the caretaker of the school to guard his potato field from wild boars.
According to the senior forester with the Wildlife Rescue and Animal Health Service, Tshencho Tshering, the four-year-old female leopard was found entangled in the snare.
He said the team was informed by the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park’s Range office. The rescue team on reaching the site examined the leopard and had it tranquilised. The leopard was found to be very healthy and without injury. “Rescue effort was performed on time and the animal had not suffered from injuries on its body,” Tshencho Tshering he said. It was later released in the wild.
This is the first case of common leopard found encroaching into the human domain in Phobjikha.
Forest and Nature Conservation Rules restricts illegal setting up snares and legal action has been taken against such persons.
