A leopard which fell into a well was rescued on Monday by forest officials with the help of local villagers but a forest ranger was injured in the rescue operation that went on for hours, divisional forest officer Gariaband NK Pandey informed.
The leopard had fallen into well located in Dinwa village under Panduka forest range on late Sunday evening. Villagers after spotting the leopard in the well had informed forest officials who immediately reached on the spot and did the fantastic job to saved leopard’s life.
“Due to darkness rescue operation for pulling leopard out of the well was not carried out on Sunday evening. However, a cot tided with ropes from four corners was placed at the water level in the well to give a better platform to the leopard,” DFO Pandey said, adding, the leopard climbed on the cot whole night.
“Due to presence of villagers around well in huge number it was not safe to bring out the wild cat. However by evening hours when villagers went back home a ladder was placed inside the well,’’ he said.
“The leopard immediately jumped out of the well through ladder and before anyone could react, it attacked Range officer Arun Som and scratched him, though the forest officials’ team present at the site with torches and crackers saved the officer but the leopard ran into nearby jungle,” DFO Pandey said. Condition of Range Officer Arun Som is out of danger, he said.