Man mauled by leopard at Rajaji

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 10

In a bizarre incident, 56-year-old man was mauled by a leopard in the Motichoor range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve here, taking to five the number of human casualties this year involving leopard attacks.

Victim Surat of Murgi farm near Raiwala had taken his cattle for grazing in the Satyanarayan section of the Motichoor range. He went to the Suswa river in the range along with his cattle but did not return in the evening.

The worried family members tried to search him. They informed both forest and police authorities about the happening. A combing operation was launched during morning hours on Tuesday which led to the recovery of half-eaten body of Surat.

On getting to know of the incident, Rajaji Tiger Reserve Director Sanatan rushed to the spot. The infuriated villagers, who confronted him, sought prompt action against the leopard alleging that they were constantly living in the fear of leopards. Director Sanatan asserted that forest patrol had been intensified in the range and residents of nearby areas told to be cautious.

Earlier, a 60-year woman and a five-year-old girl were killed in the same Motichoor range by leopard in May and June.

While five persons have been killed in 2018 in leopard attack in Motichoor range, since 2014, 18 persons have been killed by leopards in the same range revealing the level of man-animal conflict in the area.