Leopard freed into Odisha jungle

"The leopard was released yesterday in the forests near Rairakhol in Sambalpur district, about 230 km from here," forest officials said.

The animal was kept at Nandan Kanan Zoological Park after its capture from Sonepur, sources said.

"The wildlife officials have been asked to keep an eye on the animal that is released in the forest," state Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray, who took it as a responsibility to release the big cat after assuming the office last week, said.

The male leopard had entered into a shop in Sonepur on July 4. The animal was kept for some time at the district collector's office and later shifted to Nandan Kanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar.