Leopard Breaks Rusted Cage Wire and Escapes from Kota’s Nayapura Zoo

A two‑year‑old female leopard escaped from the Nayapura Zoo in Kota after forcing open a rust‑eaten wire mesh that formed part of its enclosure. Zoo staff said the animal appeared weak at the time of the incident and managed to slip through the compromised barrier.

According to the zoo’s caretaker and an assistant police officer present on site, the leopard’s escape was not a result of deliberate sabotage but rather the failure of the aging cage infrastructure. Both officials are cooperating with the investigation into why the mesh had deteriorated to the point of breaking.

The Rajasthan Forest Department immediately formed a probe committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the breach, assess the animal’s health, and plan a safe recapture operation. Authorities have also announced a review of enclosure safety standards across state-run zoos to prevent similar incidents in the future.