Two leopards were caged in different locations of Dooars on Saturday night and released into the wild on Sunday.

While one of the animals was trapped at the plantations of Nangdala tea estate, located near Birpara of Alipurduar district, the other was caged in the Binnaguri military station area of the neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.

Sources in the state forest department said for the past few days, a leopard had strayed into the tea estate. “The tea workers and their families had spotted the big cat a number of times in the plantation. They had alleged that the leopard was lifting poultry and cattle from their quarters.” Said a source.

On Saturday afternoon, tea worker Sumita Lohar suffered serious injuries when the animal attacked her while she was plucking tea leaves with a group of women workers in the estate.

Her colleagues managed to shoo away the animal and rushed her to the state general hospital in Birpara where she is still under treatment.

The big cat caged in the Nangdala tea estate of Alipurduar district. Picture courtesy: Bengal forest department

After the incident, a team of foresters went to the spot and installed a cage.

On Sunday morning, the workers heard the animal’s growls and found it trapped in the cage.

In a similar manner, another leopard that had entered the army cantonment area was trapped in another cage that the foresters had placed. As the news spread, forest officers, along with other staff, reached both the spots.

The cages were taken away to different reserve forests. In both places, hundreds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the animals which went on growling in the cage.

“Later in the day, the leopards were released into the wild. We are not disclosing the locations for the animals’ safety,” said Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife, north).