West Bengal: Leopard strays into Cooch Behar, rescued

JALPAIGURI: Wrapped up in woollen clothes and a muffler, Subodh Sarkar had just started his stroll when he spotted an animal walking down the street in the Kalabagan area on a foggy Thursday morning. It took some time for him to realise that it was a leopard and out came a frail shout.
Like Sarkar, several morning walkers spotted the leopard in Ward 3 of the town on Thursday.Later, hundreds of people came out of their homes to catch a glimpse of the animal.
Rattled by the hue and cry, the leopard took to running on the streets before entering a local’s house.
Cops reached the spot along with a team of foresters from Cooch Behar division. Forest officials locked the room from outside and made a hole in the door. The animal was darted through the hole and then taken to Jaldapara National Park.
None is sure where the animal entered the town from. Officials suspect it might have come out from Jaldapara, around 35km away. The leopard did not harm anyone, said officials.