CONFLICT ON THE RISE AS PEOPLE TRESPASS INTO FORESTS

DEHRADUN: Human-leopard conflict in the Rajaji National Park have increased over the past few months due to human presence in forest despite warning, director of Rajaji said.

After reports of frequent mananimal conflicts from forest areas near the Motichur range of Rajaji, officials of the protected area launched an operation to identify the big cats attacking people and capture them.

Director of Rajaji National Park Sanatan Sonkar said, “Around 12 leopards are present in this area (Motichur range, a core area in the western part of the park), who have not ventured out of the forests but these conflicts are happening due to human trespassing into the forest.”