Leopard who killed two teenagers finally caught
The hide and seek between Kheri forest officials and a leopard ended early on Thursday morning with the errant animal getting trapped in a cage set-up inside a sugarcane field in Bantukra village. The village is located across the Ghaghra river in close proximity of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary forests.
The leopard, which had killed two teenagers since September 14 besides attacking one, was ultimately lured to the bait kept inside the cage on Thursday, said divisional forest officer (DFO) Dudhwa Anil Kumar Patel.
“The trapped leopard is a sub-adult female of two to three years age,” said Patel while adding, “A team of veterinary doctors have examined the leopard and found it healthy and fit.”
“A letter has been sent to principal chief conservator of forest, wildlife seeking his permission to release the leopard in a safe area,” he added.
Residents of Bantukra, Chakdaha, Sahabdinpurwa and several other villages located across Ghaghra river were left petrified after a big cat attacked
and killed a 12-year boy Brijesh of Chakdaha village on September 14 last.
On September 27, another 14-year boy Chandan was killed by a big cat in his fields in neighbouring Sahabdinpurwa village.
On the same day, 14-year-old Reena of Chakdaha had a narrow escape after the leopard attempted to attack her but failed as farmers rushed to the rescue of the girl.
Two human killings in quick succession alerted the north Kheri forest department about the impending man-animal conflict in the area.
The forest department teams were assisted by Wildlife Trust of India officials in monitoring the movement of the big cat. Infra-red enabled cameras were installed at viable locations. Pugmarks were lifted to identify the errant big cat which turned out to be a leopard.
Later, four cages were set up in his movement area to trap it. However, the leopard was cunning enough to have dodged the arrangements before getting caught on Thursday morning.