Raipur. A heartening sight has emerged from the forests of Bastar. Two newborn leopard cubs, separated from their mother in the Chitrakoot area, were reunited with their mother after about 48 hours with the help of the forest department and villagers

A cub was reported picked up by village children on August 22. The forest department immediately took it into safe custody and released it in the early morning in the forest where its mother was expected to arrive.

But when the female leopard failed to arrive, forest officials began searching for the other cub. High-resolution trap cameras were installed nearby, keeping both cubs in a safe location and monitoring them continuously

Then on Monday night, the camera captured the moment the team had been waiting for: The female leopard approached the two cubs and carried them into the dense forest.

The Forest Department has declared the operation a success. The alertness of the villagers and the constant monitoring of the forest staff were crucial in this rescue operation.