Leopard scare at Kharar village

Residents of Simbalmajra in Kharar and Mahmoodpur in Fatehgarh Sahib are living in fear as a leopard scare struck the area after pugmarks were reportedly spotted in fields of these villages.

A team from the Mohali Wildlife Department combed the area but there is no confirmation about the feline yet.

“The reported pugmarks are relatively smaller in size as compared to that of a leopard. Also, there are no visible signs of a leopard’s presence in the area. We are combing the area to allay village residents’ fear,” said an official.

Locals reported the matter to wildlife officials after which a team from Mohali inspected the area. Residents said they were exercising caution especially during early morning and evening hours.

Leopard sighting is a regular feature every year in Dera Bassi subdivision. On April 7 last year, a four-year-old male leopard died after being hit by a car on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway at night. In May 2020, a leopard was spotted in the fields of Janetpur village during the daytime. In August 2022, wildlife officials laid a trap to catch a leopard at Amlala village.