One-year-old leopard caught in Khurel

Forest officials now suspect that two more leopards are hiding in the area.

According to the sources,the residents of Khurel village in Navsari district were scared to go out to their fields after the leopard was spotted in a field on the outskirts of the village.

Village sarpanch Minesh Patel informed forest officials about the incident after which five cages were placed at different places. A goat was placed as bait in the cage to lure the leopard.

Early on Tuesday morning,some of the villagers heard the bleats of the goat. They rushed to the cage,kept near the well,and found the leopard trapped inside. They informed the forest officials,who rushed to the spot and took the cage with them.

Patel said: “The villagers have spotted two more leopards apart from the one caught today. We are all scared and even the farm labourers are also not going to the fields. We have warned all villagers to keep alert during the night. Youths armed with wooden sticks and sharp weapons roam the streets during the night.”

Range Forest Officer K D Patel said: “We have put five cages in the village and the leopard caught today was one year old. We have launched a search operation for its parents. We have found footprints of the big leopards at different places. Forest guards have been deployed in the village and the surrounding areas to catch the two adult leopards.

But not a single incident of leopard attack has been reported in Khurel village.”