Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 6 Mar: The terror of leopards in Uttarakhand shows no signs of abating. The leopards and now even tigers continue to wreak havoc and create terror among people by attacking the people and also the livestock. Last night, a leopard unleashed devastation in the remote Dhung village of Agastyamuni block, Rudraprayag district, killing 17 goats belonging to two local herders. The incident has left the entire village gripped by fear, while anger against the Forest Department is also running high.
According to information received, the leopard attacked the goat pens of villagers Digpal Singh Negi and Sajjan Singh Negi late at night. In a relentless assault, it killed 17 goats one after another. When the herders arrived at the pens the next morning, they were horrified to find the bloodied carcasses scattered across the enclosure. The families have suffered a severe financial blow due to the loss of their livestock.
The villagers say the menace of wild animals in the region is steadily increasing. Even as the monkeys, wild boars and langurs are already destroying standing crops, leopards have now begun targeting domestic animals in many parts of the state, particularly in the hills. Farming has long been at the mercy of wild creatures, and now animal husbandry too has become unsafe, leaving livelihoods under serious threat.
District Panchayat members in Rudraprayag have demanded immediate compensation for the affected families and urged that cages be installed and patrolling intensified to capture the leopard and prevent such attacks in future.
Upon receiving the report, a Forest Department team reached the site and began assessing the damage. The villagers allege that the department often resorts to mere formalities instead of taking concrete measures to provide relief from the terror of wild animals. At the same time Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rajat Suman said the departmental team has inspected the site and is preparing a damage assessment report. Compensation will be provided to the affected herders once the report is finalised. He added that trap cameras and cages will be installed to monitor leopard activity, and patrolling in the area will be strengthened.
