IN A successful wildlife rescue operation, the Forest Department has reunited two leopard cubs with their mother in the dense forests of Bastar after nearly 48 hours of continuous monitoring. The operation was carried out with the cooperation of local villagers and the use of trap cameras to track the movement of the animals. The operation began on August 22 after the Forest Department received information that village children had picked up a leopard cub in the hilly forest area of Chitrakot Range. Acting promptly, a forest team took the cub into its custody at around 11.20 pm. Under the guidance of Divisional Forest Officer Dipesh Kapil, the team placed the cub at a safe location deep inside the forest at around 4 am in the hope that its mother would return and take it back. However, monitoring during the following day showed that the female leopard had not yet approached the cub. The Forest Department, with the assistance of villagers, then launched a search for another cub in the surrounding area. The second cub was subsequently located, following which both cubs were kept at a safe location.

 

High-resolution trap cameras were installed nearby to monitor the area without disturbing the animals. Forest personnel maintained continuous surveillance for approximately 48 hours, carefully tracking the movements of the cubs and waiting for the mother to return. The long-awaited reunion was captured on a trap camera on Monday night. The female leopard approached the two cubs and safely took them away into the dense forest. The successful reunion brought relief to the forest officials and villagers involved in the operation. The department said the priority throughout the mission was to reunite the cubs with their mother and return them to their natural habitat rather than keep them in captivity unnecessarily. The operation also highlighted the importance of community participation in wildlife conservation. The vigilance of villagers, prompt intervention by forest personnel and use of surveillance technology helped ensure the safe return of the cubs to their natural family. The successful operation has been described as an example of coordinated efforts towards wildlife protection and harmonious coexistence between local communities and wild animals.