Staff Reporter
Ponda
Responding to allegations regarding the death of a rescued leopard cub in the Forest Department’s custody, Deputy Conservator of Forest Jiss Varkey said that the cub was safely released into the forest on December 18 after following protocol that included obtaining a fitness certificate and warden’s order.
However, Varkey refused to make this documentation public, stating that
the department would provide evidence once they recapture images of the cub moving with its mother in the forest.
He dismissed reports of the cub’s death as “false information spread by some staff members as revenge” which had fuelled the controversy. Varkey contradicted the statement made by Range Forest Officer Deepak Tandel regarding the cub’s handling, particularly regarding its treatment.
He stated that the cub was never sent to Bondla Zoo for treatment, as claimed by Tandel, but was attended to by the Animal Husbandry Department and some private doctors.
He explained that if the cub had been sent to the zoo, the animal would have had to be surrendered to the zoo authorities, ruling out its return to the forest.
While Tandel had maintained that the cub was released within four days of its rescue from Kunkoim Priol, Varkey clarified that it was released on December 18, almost 12 days after being rescued. He explained that there were two unsuccessful attempts to release the cub before it was returned to the forest. Prior to the release, the department confirmed the presence of the mother leopard in the forest.
Varkey clarified that cameras were not used in the basket used for releasing
the cub in the forest as the glow of infrared sensors could scare away the mother leopard.
However, animal rights activist Adv Surel Tilve, who had highlighted the issue, remains firm in his claim.
Tilve criticised Varkey for not providing documentation or video footage of the cub’s release.
He also pointed to the lack of a dedicated wildlife rescue centre in the state that led to the mishandling of the cub, and urged the government to set up a well-equipped facility to prevent such incidents. The leopard cub was rescued on December 5 by a woman from Walwada, Kunkolim-Ponda after it was chased by dogs.
