Leopard menace leaves Kumaon villagers in panic
RUDRAPUR: Leopard menace has been haunting several parts of Kumaon division as not a single district is left where villagers are not in panic of big cat attacks.
“Big cats, mostly leopards, find good hideouts in the rainy season near residential areas due to abundant growth of bushes. Their movements are seen particularly from July to October,” said Tanuja Parihar, ranger, Bhakhra range of forest in Nainital. In this range, a leopard’s movement with her two cubs was noticed recently.
In US Nagar’s Jaspur, a female leopard has injured around six persons in a fortnight in Patrampur village 85-km from here. Some camera traps and a cage have been installed there.
Anil Chauhan, forest officer, Patrampur forest range, said, “The female leopard is prowling the area with her cubs. A few days back, a biker hit her cub accidentally. Since then, it has become aggressive. We have installed a cage to trap the leopard.” A similar situation is being witnessed in some villages in Bazpur. In Champawat district, the people of Barakot, Pati, Khetikhan and Devidhura areas have been facing a difficult time as leopards are preying on their cattle and dogs.
In Bageshwar, Kafaligair, Baset and Tunod villages, leopard attacks are a frequent affair these days. According to the village head of Baset, Devaki Devi, villagers avoid going to their agricultural fields even in broad daylight. In Nainital, Pithoragarh and Almora, leopards are venturing into the urban areas to prey on dogs. Their frequent movement can be seen in CCTV footages. In Pithoragarh, they have been spotted in pairs in more than five villages adjoining the district headquarters.
“Our teams are patrolling in leopard-infested areas. Also, we are making people of rural and urban areas aware of the situation.”
Meanwhile, a leopard was trapped in a cage installed by forest officials in Matena village under Hawalbag block in Almora on Tuesday. It had attacked and injured a minor girl last week.