Leopard scare in Jaunpur villages

Tribune News Service

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Mussoorie, January 27

A leopard on the prowl killing cattle and attacking people has instilled fear among villagers of the Jaunpur development block in Tehri Garhwal district.

The leopard killed four goats at Khasonsi village and attacked two students passing through the Badethi Morr Road, near the Badri Gad, Banchaura region, last night.

Residents of Kahsonsi village said the leopard entered the cattle shed owned by Sunder Singh and killed four goats. It had attacked three cows in the same village a few months ago. The latest leopard attack has instilled fear among the villagers, who are unable to go out after the sunset.

The incidents of a leopard killing stray dogs on the Camel’s Back Road in Mussoorie have also been reported in the past few days. Many residents claim that they often hear a leopard growl just near their houses at night.

Villagers in the Jaunpur development block say that the leopard is on the prowl and as the temperature dips further, the cases of leopard attacks will rise.

Leopards come down from high mountains to the lower areas after the mercury dips and the cattle are their easy target, a villager said.

Mussoorie DFO Dr Dheeraj Pandey said he was not aware of any such attacks but a leopard had been sighted in the area.

He said the leopard attacks had increased due to the dark setting in early winter. The affected villagers would be compensated if the leopard attacks were found to be true, Pandey added.