Three male leopards reached the mini zoo of the state forest department in Rasikbeel on the outskirts of Cooch Behar town, on Friday night.

Sohail, a 16-year-old leopard, was brought with Shahzada and Sultan, who are aged between one-and-a-half and two years, from the Junglemahal Zoological Park in Jhargram.

“We have a leopard enclosure spread over one hectare where eight to 10 leopards can stay. We already had Garima and Rimjhim, two female leopards here. Now, the leopard population has increased to five at the mini zoo. We believe they will draw more visitors,” said Bijon Kumar Nath, the additional divisional forest officer of Cooch Behar forest division.

As of now, the trio has been kept in the night shelter of the leopards according to the recommendation of vets.

“Once they get familiarised with the new environment, they will be released into the enclosure,” Nath said.

Sources said officials associated with the zoo had sent a letter to the state zoo authority, seeking male leopards for the zoo.

“The chief wildlife warden of the state approved the request, hence the leopards have been brought here,” said a source.

As of now, the five leopards apart, the mini zoo has 11 gharials (fish-eating crocodiles), 199 spotted deer, a fishing cat, an Indian rock python, birds like Indian Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Scarlet Macaw, Golden Pheasant and Silver Pheasant.

The forest department has also introduced an animal and bird adoption scheme at Rasikbeel. Under the scheme, a person can adopt an animal or bird for a year and will have to pay for the food and other costs. The person's contribution is recognised with certificates and mementos.

“It was launched at the Bengal Safari Park (near Siliguri), earlier. Now, in Rasikbeel, we have come up with the same adoption scheme,” said Nath.