Moradabad - The terror of leopards has now extended from the forests to the cities. In the past 10 days, two leopards have been captured in the Kanth and Dilari regions. Just four days ago, a 45-year-old farmer was killed by a leopard in Jalalpur Bhud village, Bijnor. According to the Forest Department, more than 500 leopards are roaming in the fields in the Bijnor and Moradabad areas. Leopard paw prints were found in Khadana village, near New Moradabad, a week ago. This has caused both the villagers and city dwellers to become increasingly fearful.
In the Bijnor district of Moradabad division, dense forests stretch from Amangarh to Najibabad. Additionally, Moradabad's Thakurdwara tehsil is adjacent to the Uttarakhand border, where there are dense forests in the Ramnagar, Kashipur, and Jaspur areas of Uttarakhand. The Kanth region of Moradabad is close to Amangarh and Najibabad.
In Amangarh, where both tigers and leopards are present, most of the ranges in the Najibabad division are home to elephants and leopards. It is estimated that more than 500 leopards are residing in sugarcane fields. This is evidenced by the fact that 46 leopards and their cubs have been captured in Bijnor within the last year. Leopards from the forests of Bijnor and Uttarakhand have been making their way to Moradabad.
On August 14th, a leopard was captured in Malhpur village of the Kanth tehsil. Just a week later, on August 22nd, another leopard was trapped in a cage by the Forest Department team in Bawania village, Dilari. The alarming fact is that these leopards are now approaching the city through these villages. Leopards have been spotted in the forests of Guretha, Modha Taiya, and Khadana, adjacent to the urban areas of Majhola and Pakbara. Due to the possibility of leopards being present, the Forest Department has advised people to remain vigilant.
The fear of leopards is particularly high in the villages of Sultanpur Khaddar, Malikpur, Haji Nagla, Sitapur, Sarkada Vishnoi, and Bawania in the Dilari region of the district. Residents of these villages are spending their nights awake, scared of the leopards. Leopards have already attacked farmers in these areas.
Leopards Thriving in Sugarcane Fields: Joel Loyal
Joel Loyal, a senior wildlife researcher and expert from Jim Corbett, mentioned that leopards have adapted to living in sugarcane fields. Removing them from these areas is now a challenging task. Given their growing presence, people must learn how to protect themselves from these wild animals.
There are a large number of leopards in the sugarcane fields. To capture and count them, the Wildlife Institute has appointed two scientists. These scientists will use drones to count the leopards over the next four months. Wherever leopard paw prints are found or where farmers have reported sightings, cages will be set up to capture the leopards and release them into the Amangarh forest.
Leopard to Be Declared Man-Eater, Forest Officials Write Letter
Bijnor - The leopard that killed a farmer in Jalalpur Bhud also consumed him. With three deaths and three injuries occurring within a 4-5 km radius in about one and a half months, there is an increasing suspicion that the leopard may have turned into a man-eater. In response, DFO Arun Kumar Singh has written to higher authorities, requesting the leopard be declared a man-eater.
Leopard Killed in Road Accident Last Year
Moradabad - In September last year, two leopards made their way to Sikanderpur village in the Majhola police station area. The noise made by villagers and the lighting of fires caused the leopards to flee. During their escape, one leopard was hit by a truck on the Pakbara-Gindaura road and died on the spot. The Forest Department team followed the leopards’ paw prints to the sugarcane fields. The Forest Department believes that the leopards moved from the Modha Taiya area to the Thakurdwara region via Kanth.
Source:- Amar Ujala
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