Shocking Wildlife Incident: Leopard Kills Blackbuck at Statue of Unity Safari Park; 7 More Die of Shock

A leopard breached the enclosure at the safari park near Gujarat’s Statue of Unity, killing one blackbuck and causing seven others to die from shock.

January 6, 2025: In a shocking wildlife incident near Gujarat’s Statue of Unity, a leopard entered a jungle safari park and killed a blackbuck deer, causing seven more blackbucks to die from shock and panic. The incident took place in the early hours of January 1, 2025, and has since triggered an official investigation by the local forest department.

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Details of the Incident

The 2 to 3-year-old leopard managed to breach the fenced boundaries of the park, which is part of the Kevadia forest division, surrounded by the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary—an area known for its leopard population.

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Once inside the herbivore enclosure, the leopard attacked and killed one blackbuck. Forest officials reported that the remaining seven blackbucks succumbed to shock caused by the predator’s presence. Post-mortem examinations were conducted on all eight carcasses before they were cremated.

Immediate Response and Park Closure

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF Agneeshwar Vyas) stated that while leopard sightings are common in the surrounding forest, this was the first recorded incident of a leopard entering the safari park.

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The park is monitored through over 400 CCTV cameras, and the leopard’s entry was detected immediately. Security teams responded swiftly, causing the leopard to flee. However, officials are uncertain whether the leopard has exited the park entirely.

Safety Measures and Tourist Impact

As a precautionary measure, the park was temporarily closed to visitors for 48 hours. It was reopened on January 3, but concerns remain regarding the leopard’s potential return and the safety of other animals in the enclosure.

Forest officials are now reviewing the fencing structure and enhancing security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

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Tags:
Statue of Unity Safari Park, Leopard Attack Gujarat, Wildlife Incident India, Blackbuck Deaths, Kevadia Forest Division, Wildlife Conservation Gujarat, Tourism Safety Gujarat