Leopard kills three-and-half-yr-old girl

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 11

A three-and-a-half-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in Khaneri village in Rampur, 135 km from here, on Friday night.

Riya was attacked when she went out to answer the call of nature. Her mother realised Riya was missing when she did not respond to her calls. The mother immediately raised the alarm and a search was launched. However, night-long effort by local residents and Forest Department staff bore no result.

The mutilated body of the girl was found on Saturday morning, about 500 m away from where she went missing.

The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rampur, sanctioned an interim relief of Rs 25,000 for the family.

The Forest Department has mounted a vigil to monitor leopard movements in the area. Cameras and trap cages have been set up in sensitive areas.

A team of the Wildlife Department is making efforts to capture the leopard that killed the girl. Residents have been advised to avoid venturing out alone in the dark.

The DFO has set up an emergency cell (0-1782-233107; 9418273576) in the office of the Assistant Conservator of Forests, Rampur, for reporting any information related to the leopard.

According to wildlife experts, shrinking habitat is largely responsible for the man-animal conflicts. In view of this, the state has sent a proposal to the Central government to increase the total protected area under wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and conservation reserves in Himachal from 7,160 sq km to 8,409 sq km.

As per government data, 362 cases of leopard attack — which led to 31 deaths, 94 grievous injuries and 237 simple injuries — have been reported since 2004.