Trapped for 6 Hours: Black Panther’s Unfortunate Encounter in Residential Area While Searching for Water

Leopard Rescued After Getting Head Stuck in Pot While Searching for Water

In an unusual incident, a leopard found itself in a predicament in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan as it ventured into a human settlement in search of water. The big cat’s head became trapped in an aluminum utensil with a narrow opening.

After a painstaking struggle lasting 10 hours, a team of Forest Department officials managed to free the distressed animal from its plight. The massive leopard, which could weigh up to 2.5 tons, was eventually released into the dense forest of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Early on a Wednesday morning, residents of Sardul Kheda village were startled by the cries of the animal. The frightened leopard raced through the village with its head stuck in the pot, while villagers followed closely, capturing the unusual sight on their mobile phones.

Despite attempts by some villagers to capture the animal by immobilizing its legs, these efforts only agitated the leopard further. Forest officials were then alerted, and after tranquilizing the animal, they carefully removed its head from the pot.

“It took four hours to tranquilize the leopard and remove the pot. The leopard may have suffocated if its head had remained stuck longer. Our team tranquilized the leopard and moved the animal to an enclosure. We tried various angles to remove the aluminum pot and succeeded without using a gas cutter,” explained Kapil Chandrawal, District Forest Officer of Rajsamand. The leopard was set free in the forest area later that afternoon.

According to forest officials, the three-year-old leopard had strayed into the village in search of water. Villagers had reported multiple sightings of the leopard and its two cubs near their fields a week earlier.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by wildlife as several animals have been forced to leave the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary due to water scarcity, seeking refuge in nearby marble dumping sites. These sites provide narrow ridges and small spaces between large marble blocks that offer safety to these animals.

Rajsamand, known for its marble production, boasts abundant water resources such as lakes, ponds, and seasonal rivers. The Kumbhalgarh sanctuary, located just 20 km from Sardul Kheda village, is home to a diverse range of wildlife.