PONDA: Bondla Zoo was closed for visitors on Saturday after a trespasser broke open the locks of the leopards’ shelter and released three adults and two cubs.
The leopards were moving around the zoo freely after they were released, causing fear among zoo employees and forcing the authorities to close the facility for a day.
The zoo employees did not know from where exactly the trespasser entered into the zoo. The employees came to know of the incident when they went for patrolling at around 6 am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the zoo employees had a tough time in trapping the freed leopards: while two adult leopards, namely, Mandu and Anjali could be located immediately within the zoo premises, a female leopard Julie was located only late in the evening. All the three leopards were trapped and re-lodged in their shelters.
The remaining two cubs have been sighted moving in the zoo and are likely to be trapped by night.
Later, the Bondal Zoo manager lodged a police complaint against the unknown trespasser under Section 447 for criminal trespass and under Section 336 of IPC for endangering human life.
PSI Nelson Colaco attached to the Ponda police station is investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the zoo officials said that the facility would be open for visitors on March 4.
