A leopard cat found in Karimganj; Forest officials released it back to the forest

A suspected baby cat suspected to be a leopard was recovered from Patiala village of Lowairpoa range of Karimganj forest division on Wednesday, officials said. A lot of rumours were spread relating to the animal, however, the forest department has cleared the air.

The infant was later released back in the forest area as it was too young to keep outside its natural habitat.

“It was recovered by some villagers and were kept at one’s residence tied. On getting informed we rushed there and brought it to the forest department office. Later on the direction of the Divisional Forest Officer, we released it in Borail Wildlife Sanctuary,” Subrangsu Sekar Nath, I/C Lowairpoa range said while speaking to Barak Bulletin.

The leopard cat is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast, and East Asia. A leopard cat is about the size of a domestic cat, but more slender, with longer legs and well-defined webs between its toes.

“Forest officers brought it to my office that day. It was quite young so we decided to release it back at the forest from where it probably came out,” Karimganj Divisional Forest Officer Jalnur Ali said.