Fear stalks villages as killer leopard returns

The attack came just two days after the leopard killed a woman at Kitali. In all,it has killed six persons and injured two since April 6. This was apparently the leopard that has been causing deaths over the past few days, additional principal chief conservator of forest S S Mishra told The Sunday Express.

The leopard,officials finally admitted after denials over the past few days,is the same that was captured at Sadagah in Saoli on April 7 and released in the core area of TATR. We have to agree,until proved otherwise,that it is the same animal since there is a definite pattern to all the attacks, Mishra said.

Now,PCCF,Wildlife,S W H Naqvi has issued an order to shoot the leopard,a young female,and several teams have been formed to find it.

The villages,meanwhile,appear as if curfewed with people reluctant to leave their homes,sources said.

The release of the problem animal has also raised the heckles of activists,who claim the move and officials claims that different animals were involved in the attacks have increased peoples animosity towards wildlife.

Reacting to the charges,Mishra said,When it was caught,it didn8217;t appear to be a problem animal,causing deliberate attacks. Law says it shouldnt be kept in captivity. So we left it in TATR core area that is considered the best for the animal.