Leopard cub captured at Devgiri Fort in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; tourist access restricted

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 13 (PTI) A leopard cub was captured on Monday on the premises of Devgiri Fort in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, prompting forest officials to set up a cage to rescue its mother, who was spotted in the vicinity, an official said. Forest department teams have barricaded the pathway leading to the fort's museum building, restricting tourist access and stationed guards atop the Chand Minar to monitor the adult big cat's movements before relocating both animals, the official told PTI. Located 12 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, Devgiri (Daultabad) Fort is one of the most visited monuments en route to Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had earlier written to the forest department seeking help after big cats were spotted in the fort area. The forest department placed a cage on Friday, trapping a cub this morning, an official said. "Another cage has been placed near the cub's cage to trap the mother. A team has been deployed on Chand Minar to keep a watch. Once the mother is caught, both will be relocated to the forest," he said. PTI AW ARU