Leopard Trio Arrives at Cooch Behar's Rasikbeel Mini Zoo, Boosting Wildlife Collection

In a significant development for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, a trio of leopards has found a new home at the Rasikbeel Mini Zoo on the outskirts of Cooch Behar town, under the stewardship of the state forest department. Sohail, a 16-year-old leopard, has joined the zoo alongside Shahzada and Sultan, aged between one-and-a-half and two years. Hailing from the Junglemahal Zoological Park in Jhargram, these additions bring the total leopard population at the mini zoo to five.

Bijon Kumar Nath, the additional divisional forest officer of Cooch Behar forest division, expressed enthusiasm about the new arrivals, stating, "We have a leopard enclosure spread over one hectare where eight to 10 leopards can stay. We already had Garima and Rimjhim, two female leopards here. Now, the leopard population has increased to five at the mini zoo. We believe they will draw more visitors."

Currently, the trio is acclimating to their surroundings and has been temporarily housed in the night shelter as per the recommendation of veterinary experts. Once they become familiar with the new environment, they will be released into the expansive enclosure for public viewing.

Officials associated with the zoo had previously communicated with the state zoo authority, seeking male leopards for the Rasikbeel Mini Zoo. The request received approval from the chief wildlife warden, leading to the arrival of Sohail, Shahzada, and Sultan.

Apart from the leopard additions, Rasikbeel Mini Zoo boasts a diverse collection of wildlife, including 11 gharials (fish-eating crocodiles), 199 spotted deer, a fishing cat, an Indian rock python, and various bird species like Indian Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Scarlet Macaw, Golden Pheasant, and Silver Pheasant.

In an effort to engage the community in wildlife conservation, the forest department has introduced an animal and bird adoption scheme at Rasikbeel. Individuals can now adopt an animal or bird for a year, contributing to the associated costs such as food and care. Participants in the adoption scheme receive certificates and mementos as a token of recognition for their support.

The adoption initiative, previously launched at the Bengal Safari Park near Siliguri, aims to foster a sense of responsibility and connection among the public towards the well-being of the diverse wildlife residing in Rasikbeel Mini Zoo.