Wildlife – Leopard Sighting Shuts Ghaziabad School, Rescue Underway
Wildlife – A government school in Ghaziabad was closed on Wednesday morning after a leopard was seen moving within its premises, prompting an immediate rescue operation by forest officials.
Leopard Seen on Security Cameras
The incident occurred at Green Field School located in the Govindpuram area of Ghaziabad. According to officials, school authorities noticed unusual movement on the campus through CCTV footage early in the morning and quickly informed the forest department.
Divisional Forest Officer Isha Tiwari told ANI that the department received a call from the school administration around 7:50 am. The authorities shared video clips from an exterior security camera that showed a wild animal entering and exiting the premises. Based on the footage, officials identified the animal as a leopard.
A forest team reached the location by approximately 8:30 am to assess the situation and begin necessary precautions.
Campus Secured as Precaution
Following confirmation of the sighting, the entire school area was immediately sealed off to prevent any risk to students, teachers, and nearby residents. School management decided to suspend classes for the day as a safety measure.
Officials said that visibility within parts of the campus posed a challenge for the rescue team. Dense vegetation and structural corners made it difficult to determine the exact location of the animal after it was initially seen on camera.
Forest personnel conducted a detailed search of the premises while ensuring that no one entered the restricted zone.
Tranquilization Team Deployed
Authorities confirmed that a specialized tranquilization unit was deployed to safely capture the leopard. The team includes trained wildlife experts equipped with tranquilizer guns and other necessary tools to handle such situations.
The operation is being carried out with caution to ensure that neither the animal nor any person in the vicinity is harmed. Once located and tranquilized, the leopard is expected to be relocated to a suitable forest habitat away from residential areas.
Officials emphasized that such rescue efforts require patience and controlled coordination, especially in urban surroundings where public safety is a priority.
Advisory Issued to Local Residents
The forest department has urged residents of Govindpuram and adjoining localities to remain alert and avoid gathering near the school premises. People have been specifically advised not to attempt to approach or track the animal if sighted elsewhere.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the area until the situation is fully resolved. Additional staff members have been stationed nearby to manage crowd control and assist in the ongoing operation.
Leopard sightings in urban regions are often linked to shrinking forest boundaries and increased human expansion. Wildlife experts note that animals sometimes stray into populated areas while searching for food or safe passage. However, officials have not indicated any immediate threat beyond the school compound in this case.
The forest department reiterated that the rescue mission will continue until the leopard is safely secured and relocated. Updates are expected once the operation concludes.