Garhwal Post Bureau
Almora, 5 Jan: A leopard that had long terrorised Purana Lohba, a habitation within the Simalkhet Village Sabha of Chaukhutia development block, was finally trapped this morning in a cage set up by the Forest Department. The capture early this morning, has brought immense relief to the local residents who had been living in fear for weeks. The leopard had been prowling in the locality for a considerable period, frequently breaking into cowsheds and preying on cattle and other domestic animals.
It may be recalled that the growing menace of the leopard in Simalkhet and neighbouring villages had created an atmosphere of dread and as a result the villagers had been reluctant to step out of their homes after dark. Anxiety had also been mounting that if the predator was not captured swiftly, it might attack a human being. Persistent demands from the villagers compelled the Forest Department to act, and a cage was installed in Purana Lohba to secure the animal.
Today morning, the leopard walked into the trap. Its roars alerted villagers, who rushed to the spot and immediately informed the Forest Department. A team arrived promptly and took the animal into safe custody. Forest Range Officer Gopal Dutt Joshi conceded that the leopard had been active in the Simalkhet area for a prolonged period, causing significant damage to livestock by repeatedly breaking into cowsheds. He stated that the cage had been deployed after these repeated incidents, leading to the successful capture.
The leopard has now been sent to the Dwarahat Range Office, from where it will be transported to the rescue centre in Almora. The Forest officials shared that the villagers have reported the presence of other leopards in the vicinity. Taking these reports seriously, patrolling has been intensified across the region. Three cages have been placed in the Dwarahat Range area, two designated for leopards and one for a bear. In addition, trap cameras have been installed to monitor the movement of wild animals. The Forest department claims that various teams are conducting regular patrols to ensure the safety and reassurance of the villagers.
