Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9 -- A leopard was found trapped in a poacher's snare inside the Karatapata Section forest of Angul district on Tuesday, prompting an urgent response from the Forest Department. The big cat is believed to have fallen into the snare earlier in the day and remained stuck as officials initiated rescue operations.

Forest personnel reached the site soon after receiving the alert and began sustained efforts to free the leopard. As of the latest reports, the animal was still active. Officials were evaluating whether tranquillisation would be necessary or if a safer method could be employed to release it without causing harm.

The incident has raised questions over how poachers managed to set traps inside a protected forest are...