Jharkhand’s Palamu forest: Cameras, drones and a ‘Shikari’ hunt leopard that killed 4 children
By PTI
RANCHI: The Jharkhand forest division has deployed over 50 lure cameras, one drone and numerous officers to hint a ‘man-eater’ leopard, which killed 4 kids since December 10 in Palamu division, an official mentioned on Sunday.
The division has now roped in celebrated Hyderabad-based hunter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan to bag the massive cat by tranquillising him.
It is suspected that every one 4 kids together with three in Garhwa and one in Latehar district had been killed by the identical leopard.
The victims had been within the age group of six and 12 years.
The leopard has struck terror in additional than 50 villages in three blocks — Ramkanda, Ranka and Bhandariya — of the district the place individuals have been requested by the forest division to not enterprise out after sundown.
“We are spending sleepless nights in fear of the leopard. Women and children are scared. It appears to be a curfew-like situation in the evening,” mentioned Ravindra Prasad, a farmer from Ramkanda block.
The Garhwa forest division had submitted a proposal to state Chief Wildlife Warden on Thursday to declare the massive cat a man-eater and it had additionally steered names of three hunters together with Nawab Shafath Ali Khan and former legislator Girinath Singh.
State Chief Wildlife Warden Sasikar Samanta advised PTI, “There are some official formalities to declare an animal man-eater. Our first priority is to capture the leopard through tranquillisation, which is possible only by experts. Therefore, we have consulted Nawab Shafath Ali Khan to help in our effort. He is not only an expert but also equipped with latest equipment to identify and control an animal.”
Samanta, who can be Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), mentioned that Khan is anticipated to reach in first week of January.
“If capturing was not possible, then we may think of killing the leopard as last option,” Samanta mentioned.
Speaking to PTI, Khan confirmed that he was approached by state forest officers.
“I was told to visit Jharkhand and help in monitoring and tranquilizing the leopard. However, I am yet to receive any official letter in this regard,” he mentioned.
More than 50 lure cameras have been put up in doable route of the massive cat in and round Kushwaha village the place a 12-year-old boy was killed by the animal on December 28.
“The trap cameras have captured various animals in the region but leopard has not been traced yet. Besides trap cameras, we are also using drone cameras but it has also not found any trace of the leopard,” Garhwa Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shashi Kumar advised PTI.
He mentioned that they’d change the places of the cameras on Sunday and make one other effort to hint it.
“We have also ordered three cages from Meerut, which is likely to arrive by Sunday evening,” he mentioned.
On December 10, the leopard reportedly killed its first sufferer, a 12-year-old lady, in Chipadohar space within the close by Barwadih block of Latehar district.
Then, six-year-old youngster was killed in Rodo village in Bhandariya block on December 14 in Garhwa district, whereas one other six-year-old lady was mauled to demise by the leopard in Sevadih village in Ranka block on December 19 in the identical district.
RANCHI: The Jharkhand forest division has deployed over 50 lure cameras, one drone and numerous officers to hint a ‘man-eater’ leopard, which killed 4 kids since December 10 in Palamu division, an official mentioned on Sunday.
The division has now roped in celebrated Hyderabad-based hunter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan to bag the massive cat by tranquillising him.
It is suspected that every one 4 kids together with three in Garhwa and one in Latehar district had been killed by the identical leopard.
The victims had been within the age group of six and 12 years.
The leopard has struck terror in additional than 50 villages in three blocks — Ramkanda, Ranka and Bhandariya — of the district the place individuals have been requested by the forest division to not enterprise out after sundown.
“We are spending sleepless nights in fear of the leopard. Women and children are scared. It appears to be a curfew-like situation in the evening,” mentioned Ravindra Prasad, a farmer from Ramkanda block.
The Garhwa forest division had submitted a proposal to state Chief Wildlife Warden on Thursday to declare the massive cat a man-eater and it had additionally steered names of three hunters together with Nawab Shafath Ali Khan and former legislator Girinath Singh.
State Chief Wildlife Warden Sasikar Samanta advised PTI, “There are some official formalities to declare an animal man-eater. Our first priority is to capture the leopard through tranquillisation, which is possible only by experts. Therefore, we have consulted Nawab Shafath Ali Khan to help in our effort. He is not only an expert but also equipped with latest equipment to identify and control an animal.”
Samanta, who can be Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), mentioned that Khan is anticipated to reach in first week of January.
“If capturing was not possible, then we may think of killing the leopard as last option,” Samanta mentioned.
Speaking to PTI, Khan confirmed that he was approached by state forest officers.
“I was told to visit Jharkhand and help in monitoring and tranquilizing the leopard. However, I am yet to receive any official letter in this regard,” he mentioned.
More than 50 lure cameras have been put up in doable route of the massive cat in and round Kushwaha village the place a 12-year-old boy was killed by the animal on December 28.
“The trap cameras have captured various animals in the region but leopard has not been traced yet. Besides trap cameras, we are also using drone cameras but it has also not found any trace of the leopard,” Garhwa Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shashi Kumar advised PTI.
He mentioned that they’d change the places of the cameras on Sunday and make one other effort to hint it.
“We have also ordered three cages from Meerut, which is likely to arrive by Sunday evening,” he mentioned.
On December 10, the leopard reportedly killed its first sufferer, a 12-year-old lady, in Chipadohar space within the close by Barwadih block of Latehar district.
Then, six-year-old youngster was killed in Rodo village in Bhandariya block on December 14 in Garhwa district, whereas one other six-year-old lady was mauled to demise by the leopard in Sevadih village in Ranka block on December 19 in the identical district.
