![221.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXT4pzUZZaHkJBHeQCxknfbi4JyirPA2wPu9xg8r9bi62/221.jpg)

**winters in Digboi are very cold; there are also forests nearby. Since the beginning of winter, we
had been hearing continuous rumours of leopard and tiger sightings where we stay. Somebody said it was a Royal Bengal tiger, but when we enquired, we came to know that it was not so, as Royal Bengal tigers have never been seen in and around Digboi. “So it must have been a leopard or some other big cat,” I thought.**

**One day, my father and his friend saw the leopard while coming back from work. His friend was able to
photograph it as he was carrying his DSLR. After seeing the photograph, the occupants of our road started taking special care while going outdoors for morning and evening walks. Many even claimed to have seen it at the golf course.**

**The leopard became familiar with the territory and started moving out towards the rail station frequently and towards our bungalow too. It ate deer, goats and dogs. Our dog Mayo would bark wildly whenever it could sense the leopard. But, Mayo was happy as it was able to sleep indoors whenever the leopard visited our locality.**

**Luckily, the forest department was successful in catching the leopard near the forest behind the DPS School. We all went to see the cat that morning. The leopard was injured, angry and hungry. It was roaring and trying to get out of the cage. People were taking selfies and photographs of the leopard to post on social networking sites.**

**The leopard was then taken away in a covered truck and released in a faraway jungle. We, the residents, felt quite relieved to see it go. We can once more cycle around; play in the evenings without being afraid of the leopard, but even now, when Mayo barks wildly, we stop playing and run inside.**

# THANK YOU
![111.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZJ4GdNU576a356xRtbiFHaYmJu1VQjPF4d9QHz9r1VrG/111.jpg)