Three leopards that had escaped from the Gopalpur Zoo and had spread panic in Palampur town were recaptured on Thursday and were brought back to the zoo.
A spokesman of the State forest department said it was an act of sabotage by some miscreants who had cut the fence of the enclosures.
The infringement was noticed by the zoo staff on Wednesday morning and the three leopards were missing.
After a thorough search by the forest and zoo officials, the animals were captured from the nearby jungle.
Trap laid
A trap was laid and meat pieces were strewn all over to lure the big cats back to the enclosures. They were tranquilised and locked inside, the spokesman said.
Some parents in Palampur did not send their children to the school on Thursday after news of the leopards escaping from the zoo spread. A police investigation has been ordered into the incident.
