(IN): Leopard cat returns to the wild

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070712/asp/guwahati/story_8045544.asp

 

 

A STAFF REPORTER

 

**

 

*July 11: *It came, it saw and it left. Bringing the curtains down on the

daylong drama, the leopard cat perched on a eucalyptus tree near the

high-security Assam Assembly Secretariat area, went back to the safety of

the nearby Narkasur Hills before dawn, much to the relief of those who had

been guarding the tree throughout the night.

 

In the wee hours of the morning, around 2.20am, the leopard cat, which was

the cynosure of all eyes throughout yesterday, climbed down the eucalyptus

tree and slowly walked towards the hills from where it might have come.

 

When people passed that area this morning, they missed the cat but security

and forest department personnel were a happy and relieved lot.

 

" There were a few dogs in the area and we had to take them away so as to

avoid any disturbance to the cat, " the DFO of Assam zoo, Narayan Mahanta,

said.

 

Mahanta, who was present till the animal moved into the hills, said they had

no option but to wait and watch and finally their patience did pay off. " In

wildlife management, the aim should be to take care of the animal, " Mahanta

said.

 

Two officials of the zoo, who were posted at the site to keep a close watch

on the movement of the animal, described it as a very " unique " experience.

 

However, in the whole melee nobody thought of capturing the cat's descent

from the tree on camera as it walked towards the hills in glory.

 

During the time that the animal was perched on the tree, the forest staff

was provided with various suggestions to bring it down.

 

Some talked about calling the fire brigade with whose help they could bring

down the animal using a ladder.

 

The staff present at the site said that the leopard cat had been sleeping

throughout and must have been on the tree for 20 hours if not more.

 

In another incident, the zoo staff yesterday rescued four small baby cats

from the nearby Gopinath Bordoloi Bhawan.

 

" We got information that four animals resembling cats have been found and

rescued all of them. The cats are a day old. It would have been difficult to

tell which species they belong to and whether they are wild or domesticated.

Performing tests on them would be putting them under stress, " Mahanta said.

 

 

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