In an unusual and tense moment, a leopard unexpectedly strolled into a police station in Naduvattam, about 30 km from the hill town of Ooty, on Monday night. The wild cat entered the station around 8 p.m., startling the officers on duty.
According to forest officials, the leopard had been chasing a stray dog near the Naduvattam bus stand, which is close to the station located along a national highway. In the heat of the chase, the big cat lost sight of its target and accidentally wandered into the station premises.
S. Gowtham, District Forest Officer of Nilgiris division, confirmed that the leopard entered through a corridor and moved into one of the rooms inside. Thankfully, the officers remained frozen in shock and didn’t provoke the animal. Within moments, the leopard turned around and exited the building on its own.
The forest department has since taken the incident seriously, deploying a team of forest field staff to monitor the area continuously. The animal later returned to the nearby forest without causing any harm.
Such incidents highlight the increasing frequency of wild animals entering human spaces, often due to shrinking natural habitats or prey drives. Authorities continue to remain vigilant in the region to prevent any future encounters.
