Mysore/Mysuru: Three leopards cubs including a rare black cub which were rescued from sugarcane field at Ayarahalli village in the taluk have been reunited with their mother.

The leopard cubs were found during harvesting of sugarcane at the field belonging to Dyavannanayaka at Ayarahalli village. Labourers, who heard the leopard cubs squeaking, rescued the cubs and brought them to a safe place. The villagers immediately put them in a box and handed them over to the Forest Department staff. It is said that the cubs were born a week back.

Efforts were made to reunite the cubs with their mother and the Forest Department staff had installed camera traps around the sugarcane field where the cubs were found. Also, Leopard Task Force personnel were deployed at a distance from the spot where the cubs were found to monitor the place.

Yesterday, the three cubs were placed in a cage and the cage was kept in the sugarcane field where the cubs were found. The mother leopard, which came in search of her cubs went into the cage and was trapped along with her cubs.

The Forest staff then shifted the cage along with the leopard and three cubs to Aranya Bhavan in city where the health of the leopard and her cubs were checked by the veterinarian. It is learnt that the Forest staff after seeking permission from their senior Officers will release the leopard and the cubs into their natural habitat.