The two leopards, which had escaped from the Gopalpur Zoo in Himachal Pradesh two day ago, were captured today, a senior forest department official said.
"Both the leopards were safely rescued this morning with the help of police and zoo workers. A worker also sustained minor injuries during the operation," DFO Wild Life Hamirpur Nitin Patil said.
They were brought back to the zoo this afternoon, he said.
Patil said that the fence of the enclosure of the leopards was cut intentionally by some unidentified persons as we had found some pieces of meat from the area around which the cage was cut.
On the night of March 14, three leopards escaped from the Gopalpur Zoo, about 20 km from here, after some miscreants cut the wires along the fence.
The third leopard, who was injured and could not run fast, was captured while two others ran into the forests, triggering panic and fear among the residents in the area.
There were 12 leopards in the zoo and when attendants enter the enclosures in the morning, three leopards were found missing after which search operations were launched.
The zoo had been closed.
Yesterday, the district administration sounded an alert in surrounding areas and asked the locals to remain cautious.
"A case has been registered and investigation is on to nab the culprits," said Patil.
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