A wild leopard infiltrated a leopard enclosure at the Himalayan Nature Park in Kufri, resulting in the death of an elderly captive leopard named ‘Sheru’ on August 8. A senior official from the Wildlife Department informed The Indian Express that while a five-year-old leopardess, Bandit, was unharmed, the incident raised concerns about security at the facility.
According to the official, the intruder leopard was tranquilized, captured, and later released into the wild on August 9. However, the true cause of Sheru’s death was only revealed following a post-mortem report received on August 30, which indicated that he had not died of natural causes but rather from injuries sustained during a confrontation.
The findings prompted authorities to question officials at the Himalayan Nature Park about how a wild leopard managed to access the enclosure. Initially, due to the lack of definitive evidence, the Wildlife Department speculated that Sheru might have passed away from natural causes, despite the presence of the wild leopard.
Shahnawaz Ahmad Bhatt, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in Shimla, stated, “The post-mortem report confirmed that Sheru died from injuries inflicted during a struggle with another animal. There was indeed a breach in security. Our inspection revealed that the wild leopard entered through a small gap in the iron fence, which has since been repaired. Following a thorough medical examination, the intruder was returned to the forest.”
Bhatt added that a comprehensive report would be submitted to the Central Zoo Authority in Delhi once the staff at the Kufri zoo provides their explanation regarding the incident. Range Officer Vinita Bhardwaj, who oversees the zoo, chose not to comment publicly on the matter.
A wildlife official associated with the Kufri zoo suggested that the wild leopard may have detected the scent of the leopardess Bandit, leading to its entry into the enclosure. Upon discovering Sheru, the younger leopard became agitated, resulting in a fatal encounter with the older animal. Sheru, who was frail due to his age, was unable to defend himself against the more vigorous intruder.
The Kufri zoo, also known as the Himalayan Nature Park, is located adjacent to forested areas and is in close proximity to the Mashobra, Chail, and Shimla forest ranges. Officials noted that it is feasible for a wild leopard to pick up the scent of a young leopardess and venture into the zoo grounds.
Currently, there are three pairs of leopards housed at the zoo, with each enclosure containing one male and one female. Sheru had been residing with Bandit for an extended period. He was rescued as a cub from a forest fire in the Summer Hill area in 2007 and had been under the care of the Forest and Wildlife Department ever since. Bandit was also a rescue, having been found isolated in a forest in 2021. The enclosure shared by Sheru and Bandit is located near the courtyard of the Asiatic bears and is secured on all sides, including the roof. Due to his advanced age, Sheru had been less active, often resting inside the enclosure. The Himalayan Nature Park spans approximately 90 hectares.
