Leopards attack villagers, cattle in many districts

JAIPUR: Incidents of leopards straying into villages, owing to the scarcity of water and food, have been on the rise in Rajasthan, giving sleepless nights to villagers in many districts. On Sunday, incidents of big cats attacking villagers and cattle were reported from Sikar, Udaipur, Ajmer and Nagaur districts.

Panic gripped Butala and Kadmal villages in Gogunda block, Udaipur, after a leopard attacked four villagers in past two days. To capture the leopard that has been terrorising the villagers for past two days, the forest administration has installed a cage near Kadmal area.

It was informed, tribals living near the area have been asked to watch out for the leopard after dark. DFO, R K Jain, who was given additional charge of Gogunda forest block said, “Teams of forest officials have been working round the clock, waiting near the trap cage, along a hilly path. We have also sought permission from chief wildlife warden to tranquillise the animal. People mauled by the leopard are out of danger.”

In Dujod village of Sikar district, the full-grown leopard that had mauled two villagers was captured in a cage and taken to Neem ka Thana. The leopard was lurking in the fields around the village after attacking the villagers. It took shelter in a pipe under a bridge when the rescue operation began in the afternoon. The forest department in Lilasevdi village near Pushkar is on alert after a leopard was spotted in the village nearly after 15 years. Forest department personnel attached to Madhopur range are camping for the second consecutive day, after two leopards were spotted near a hillock.

A leopard in Jhoravpura allegedly killed cattle in the area and has caused widespread panic among the villagers.