A young leopardess was safely rescued from the Agarwada beat of Balaghat Forest Division after it was spotted early in the morning near an agricultural drainage area. The big cat was suspected to have a hind-leg injury. Following the information, a rescue team from the Forest Department rushed to the spot under the guidance of Conservator of Forests Gaurav Chaudhary and Divisional Forest Officer Nithyanantham L. The on-ground operation was led by Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Vinita Phulbel and Range Forest Officer Himanshu Rai. Initial attempts to physically capture the leopardess were unsuccessful as the animal had taken shelter in dense bushes on a mound. After obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh, a specialised veterinary team from the Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University was called for chemical immobilisation. The team was led by wildlife expert Dr Somesh Singh, who reached the site in the evening.

 

Based on expert advice, forest staff cleared bushes from one side to create a safe passage and facilitate tranquilisation. When the leopardess moved through an adjacent agricultural field, Dr Singh successfully fired a tranquiliser dart using a DANinject rifle from a safe distance. The animal was sedated within about eight minutes. A preliminary examination revealed that the leopardess, estimated to be around 1.5–2 years old, was weak and dehydrated but had no visible external injuries or fractures. Veterinarians administered painkillers, antibiotics and preventive medicines, while vital parameters such as temperature, heart rate and respiration were found to be normal. After initial treatment, the leopardess was shifted to the Wildlife Hospital and Quarantine Centre in the Mukki Range, where veterinary teams from Jabalpur and Kanha will continue monitoring its recovery. Around 60–70 personnel, including forest officials, veterinarians and frontline staff, participated in the rescue operation.