The trapped leopard. Picture by Biplab Basak

Binnaguri (Jalpaiguri), May 28: Forest officials and army personnel today trapped a leopard, which had strayed into the army cantonment here.

According to forest sources, the leopard might have entered the cantonment from the nearby forests of Reti-Sukriti or the Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary.

Forest officials said the animal would be released in a reserve forest.

Station commandant of station headquarters (SHQ) of the cantonment Swapan Ghosh said: “The leopard had become a terror for residents of the cantonment over the past few days. After we informed the range officer of Binnaguri, the forest staff and army personnel trapped it.”

The army had earlier failed to identify the type of animal.

The administrating commandant of the SHQ N.P. Singh, under whose supervision the operation was carried out said: “I was on an evening stroll with my wife on Sunday near our house with our pet dog. Suddenly, we heard its cry. As it was dark, I saw something is dragging it away even with the chain on his neck. Next day, I found the parts of the dog’s body lying scattered in the backyard of my house,” Singh said.

Before this, the leopard had taken away 30 hens and three calves. When the leopard strayed into the Officers’ Enclave, the residents of the cantonment felt insecure.

“Yesterday, Singh issued a letter to the residents and to all authorities concerned about the leopard.,” Ghosh said.

Army officials also intimated the forest department at Binnaguri.

“As we were assuming that it might return to the backyard of my house to devour the remnants of the dog, we laid a trap there using a goat as bait. We were fortunate that it was caught on the very first day,” Singh said.

“In 2001, a leopard was caught in our cantonment on 2001. Elephants often stray in our plantations but leopards are rare,” Ghosh said.