Sukhna Lake Trail Safe: Forest Dept Clarifies Leopard Rumors

Rumors about the Sukhna Lake Nature Trail being unsafe due to leopard presence have been circulating since November 2025, following camera-trap images of two leopards in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. These claims have been debunked by wildlife authorities, who clarified that the sanctuary and the lake forest are separate geographical locations. The leopards were sighted more than 10 km from the lake area, and no leopard signs have been observed within the lake forest itself.

Officials emphasize that the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, located on Chandigarh's northeastern boundary, is distinct from the Sukhna Lake Reserve Forest. The sanctuary is a protected area of 25.98 sq km, accessible only with permits and under strict supervision. In contrast, the lake forest is an open, frequently visited area with no recorded leopard activity. Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, have documented that leopards in the sanctuary are predominantly nocturnal, minimizing human encounters.