Suspected leopard attack creates panic in G Noida

GREATER NOIDA: Residents of Greater Noida’s Kasna on Sunday reported that a cat, as big as a leopard, had attacked a few people, creating panic in the area.

As news of this ‘ leopard’ attack spread, villagers armed with country-made weapons and sticks began to search for the cat. The residents informed the local police and forest officials, who immediately launched search operations in Greater Noida.

“Our two range officers conducted search operations in many areas of Greater Noida and Sikandrabad. In Greater Noida, a range officer found a sea weight cat roaming around, which does not harm people and is usually found near rivers. But we are trying our best to figure out that if a leopard is roaming in the forest area,” said KK Singh divisional forest reserve (DFO), Gautam Budh Nagar.

Officials denied rumours that the Meerut leopard had taken shelter in Greater Noida. Residents in adjoining district Bulandshahr’s Sikandrabad area on Saturday said that they had seen a leopard roaming in rural areas. The Sikandrabad forest area is near Greater Noida.

“We have sent a special team consisting of assistant forest conservator Ashok Kumar and two range officers to Meerut to help in catching the leopard. I do not think the Meerut leopard reached Greater Noida, which is densely populated,” Singh said.

Experts said that struggle among wildlife in forest areas have led to leopards sneaking into the cities of Meerut and Bijnor.

“Noise pollution has gone up manifold in our forest reserves because of excessive tourism activity, which disturbs the wildlife in its habitat. If we will fail to ensure peace in forest reserves, leopards and other wild animals will be forced to move out of their homes,” said Jitendra Singh a research scholar studying wildlife.