Villagers provoked the animal: Experts

KANPUR: A team of experts probing the leopard attack invillage that left seven persons injured said the pug marks of the big cat indicate that it had probably returned to its habitat and chances of any fresh attack were remote.

However, the three-member team said the feline was provoked by villagers following which the alarmed leopard attacked them.

Senior veterinarian with Kanpur zoological park Dr Mohammad Nasir said the pug marks showed the animal had come to drink water from a small canal flowing through the village and rested under a bush nearby.

“Inquisitive villagers reached near it with canes following which the leopard got aggressive. In the process it entered the village and attacked anyone it found. The animal was provoked by curious villagers. They have admitted to have had hit the animal with lathis,” he said.

Seven persons were injured in

› Villagers reached near leopard with canes following which it the leopard got aggressive. In the process it entered the village and attacked anyone it found.

DR MOHAMMAD NASIR, senior vet

the attack and two of them were serious. He said night long combing was done in the entire village but no trace of the animal was found. Besides, no fresh incident of attack or sighting was reported from the area.

“The animal has probably returned to forest under Jhansi range. However, trapping cages with baits inside them were put up at several places in the village and the combing operations would continue till Tuesday morning,” Dr Nasir said.