Sun Jan 05 09:24:38 UTC 2025: ## Leopard Incursion Kills Eight Deer at Gujarat Safari Park
**Kevadia, Gujarat –** A young leopard infiltrated a popular jungle safari park near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat on January 1st, resulting in the death of eight blackbuck deer. The incident prompted a swift investigation by the forest department and a temporary closure of the park.
Forest officials confirmed that a 2-3 year-old leopard breached the park’s perimeter fence, entering an enclosure where it killed one blackbuck. Seven other blackbucks in the enclosure perished from shock following the attack. Post-mortem examinations were conducted on all eight carcasses before cremation.
While leopard sightings are common in the surrounding Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, this marks the first recorded instance of a leopard entering the safari park, according to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Agneeshwar Vyas. Despite 400 CCTV cameras monitoring the park, the leopard’s presence was only detected after the attack. Security personnel responded, prompting the leopard to flee, though its current location remains unknown.
The park was closed to tourists for 48 hours following the incident and reopened on January 3rd. However, concerns persist about the possibility of the leopard returning. The forest department is continuing its investigation into the security breach.
First Piper 