Leopard attacks forest ranger, later dies during treatment in Bhilwara

Deputy Conservator of Forest, Gaurav Garg while talking to The Indian Express said, “When the leopard saw the crowd, it panicked and attacked the villagers. However, the villagers somehow managed to capture and tie its legs. When our team arrived, we immediately took the situation under control and decided to take the animal to the forest. While the rescue team was on its way to a hospital, the leopard attacked one of our rangers, Prakash Sharma. The ranger received minor injuries on his hand and is stated to be out of danger. But the leopard did not survive while it was being treated by a veterinarian.”

Garg said they are waiting for the post-mortem report to be sure about the reasons for the attack and cause of death.

Sources said the leopard was being taken in a car without being tranquilized because of which it attacked Sharma who was sitting in the front seat.

Sharma was initially admitted to the Bijolia Hospital from where he was later referred to Bhilwara Hospital. Questions are also being raised that the forest team was not prepared for the rescue operation.

Bhilwara district is part of the Mukundra Tiger Reserve, so leopards are a common sight here because of which man-animal conflict has increased over the years. According to Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) data, about 100 leopards died in Rajasthan in 2023.