50 Trap Cameras, Drone to Watch “Man-Eater” Leopard in Jharkhand

The ‘man-eating’ leopard has killed 4 kids since December 10. (Consultant picture)

Ranchi:

Jharkhand’s forest division has put in greater than 50 decoy cameras, a drone and a number of officers, however no hint of the ‘man-eating’ leopard that has killed 4 kids since Dec.

Now, the division has tied up with the well-known Hyderabad-based hunter, Nawab Shafath Ali Khan, to manage the large cat. All 4 are suspected to have been killed by the identical leopard, three in Garhwa and one within the Latehar area. The victims are within the age group of six and 12.

Terror reigns in additional than 50 villages in three blocks of the world (Ramkanda, Ranka and Bhandariya), the place villagers are requested to not exit after sundown by the leopard forest division.

Ravindra Prasad, a farmer within the Ramkanda neighborhood, mentioned: “We spend sleepless nights for worry of leopards. Ladies and youngsters are most afraid. It looks as if a curfew within the night.” The Garhwa forest division submitted a proposal to the state Chief Wildlife Officer on Thursday to declare the large cat a man-eater, and likewise recommended the names of three hunters, together with Nawab Shafath Ali Khan and former legislator Girinath Singh.

Sasikar Samanta, the state’s chief wildlife watchdog, informed PTI: “There are some official formalities to declare an animal a man-eater. Our first precedence is to catch the leopard by way of sedation, which is simply doable by consultants. That is why we consulted with Nawab Shafath Ali Khan. He’s not solely a specialist, however outfitted with the newest gear to diagnose and management an animal.” Samanta, who can be the Chief Protector of the Forest (Wildlife), mentioned Khan is predicted to reach within the first week of January. “If catching isn’t doable, then we are able to think about killing the leopard as a final resort,” Samanta mentioned.

Chatting with PTI, Khan confirmed that state forest officers had approached him. “I used to be informed to go to Jharkhand and assist monitor and calm the leopard. However I have not acquired an official letter about it but,” he mentioned.

Greater than 50 decoy cameras have been positioned within the massive cat’s doable route in and across the village of Kushwaha, the place a 12-year-old boy was killed by the animal on 28 December.

Garhwa Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shashi mentioned, “The lure cameras have captured numerous animals within the space, however no hint of the leopard has been discovered but. We use drone cameras in addition to the lure cameras, however no hint of the leopard has been discovered.” Kumar informed PTI.

He mentioned they’ll relocate the cameras on Sunday and can as soon as once more make an effort to hint them. “We additionally ordered three cages from Meerut which are prone to arrive by Sunday night,” he mentioned.

On 10 December, it was reported that the leopard made its first assault, killing a 12-year-old woman in Chipadohar district within the close by Barwadih block of Latehar district. Then, on 14 December, a six-year-old boy was killed by a leopard in Rodo village of Bhandariya block of Garhwa district, and a six-year-old woman was killed by a leopard in Sevadih village of Ranka block of the identical district on 19 December. PTI SAN RG