Nilgai rescued from Delhi locality

NEW DELHI: A nilgai which had strayed into the densely populated south Delhi locality of Netaji Nagar, behind Sarojini Nagar, was rescued by the Wildlife Trust of India on Friday and released into Asola sanctuary.

Abhishek Narayanan, technical officer of WTI’s rescue and conflict mitigation unit, said that residents of Netaji Nagar had been reporting the presence of the animal over the past week and when the team reached it on Friday, it had already become quite tame and could easily be hand-fed.

“Residents informed WTI and Wildlife SOS but the adult male could not be netted and caught. It would have to be tranquilized for which the drug was not available. Finally on Friday the drug was acquired and WTI’s veterinarian Dr Ritika Maheshwari, darted him at 4.30pm. The effect of the drug took over by 5 pm or so after which Wildlife SOS and our team transported it to Asola,” said Narayanan.

The nilgai, probably an old animal, weighed about 300 kg and was around 2m long. Sources said that it had most likely strayed into the colony from Central Ridge. “When the rescue team reached the spot, the nilgai was standing along with other cattle. Residents had been feeding it so it seemed quite docile. It was not a threat but it was better for the animal to be moved to a protected forest area,” said a source.