Leopard rescued in Chhota Udepur after four incidents of attacks on human

Vadodara: Forest department rescued a male leopard from Bandi village in Chhota Udepur on Monday afternoon after four incidents of attacks on humans were reported from the region within just three days.
The latest attack was late on Sunday night when a farmer identified as Ramsinh Rathwa was injured by a leopard at his farm in Bandi. However, it has not been confirmed yet whether the leopard rescued on Monday is the same that mauled Rathwa, a two-year-old boy and eight-year-girl.

After Sunday night’s incident, over 150 forest officials, team of veterinary doctors, wildlife activists were keeping a watch in the village since early Monday morning. According to forest officials, the leopard that was hiding in the bushes was captured in one of the five cameras that were installed. The forest officials had to fire five tranquilizer shots of which one hit the leopard. The rescue operation took place few yards away from where Rathwa was attacked on Sunday night.

Even as the foresters were trapping the leopard in the net, the wild cat bit a forester named Vishnu Rathwa on his arm. Later during the day, the leopard was shifted to Pavagadh rescue center.

Since the forest department is not ruling out presence of more leopards that may attack humans, around 10 cages and live baits have been placed. “We have called for more cages from Narmada and Bariya divisions and an intense night patrolling is on,” said Nilesh Pandya, deputy conservator of forest of Chhota Udepur.

Pandya added that whether the rescued leopard attacked four human victims can be ascertained after examining its blood and faecal samples.

It was on January 4 that a farmer identified as Balu Rathwa was killed by the leopard while he was working at his farm in Vavdi village. On Sunday, a two-year-old boy Chirag Rathwa was killed in Bandi village while an eight-year-old girl Mittal Rathwa was severely injured in separate incidents.

—

Forest department to start awareness campaign

Forest department will initiate to door-to-door campaign to create awareness among citizens about how to react when a leopard is sighted. Forest officials said that they will place banners in the villages and also explain citizens about dos and don’ts when a leopard is seen in human vicinity. On January 4 too some campaigns were done in Vavdi village where the first victim was killed.

—

‘One attack leads to another’

It is rare that leopards will attack humans. The animal may come near human vicinity and kill their cattle for food. However, the latest attacks and the attacks from last month in Dahod district have raised shockers in the eastern belt. “Leopards fear human beings, but once it attacks a human the fear is gone and it becomes its habit to attack human beings. However, even after killing a human being it will never feed on them,” said Nilesh Pandya, deputy conservator of forest, Chhota Udepur