LALITPUR: A leopard was rescued on Tuesday morning from the store room of Machhapuchhre School in Kusunti Height, Lalitpur, by a technical team from the Central Zoo.

The animal was safely captured after being tranquilized in a joint operation involving Nepal Police personnel from Satdobato, the District Forest Office Lalitpur, and a team from the Lalitpur Metropolitan Police.

According to Central Zoo Chief Satya Narayan Sah, the leopard, estimated to be about 10 years old and weighing around 60 kg, has been kept at the zoo’s wildlife hospital for treatment. After recovery, it will be released back into its natural habitat.

Zoo officials said the facility has rescued 241 wild animals, birds, and mammals over the past year, with 57 released back into the wild after treatment. The zoo currently houses more than 1,300 animals from 115 species.