Jaipur Gripped by Leopard Panic as Sightings Multiply
The Pink City of Jaipur is living on edge as leopard encounters in residential areas have become alarmingly frequent over the past fortnight. The forest department finds itself scrambling to manage an escalating crisis that has exposed serious gaps in wildlife management and urban planning.
Recent Incidents Highlight Growing Crisis
Panic gripped Chandpol area on Thursday evening when residents spotted a leopard around 8 pm. Forest officials launched an intensive chase through the congested lanes of the Walled City, finally managing to tranquillise the big cat at 1 am after nearly five hours of operation.
Even as that operation concluded, another leopard crisis was unfolding in Rundal Naka area of Achrol. A leopard had fallen into a well and remained trapped for nearly two days before being rescued and shifted to Nahargarh Biological Park for medical observation.
These recent incidents follow two previous leopard captures in Jaipur's residential areas on November 10 and November 20, indicating a worrying pattern of increasing human-animal conflict.
Experts Point to Systemic Failures
Rajendra Tiwari, president of Nahargarh Forest and Wildlife Protection Committee, highlighted critical infrastructure failures. "The boundary wall of sanctuary should be at least 10 feet, but it is just 4 feet — easy for leopards to cross," he told The Indian Express.
Tiwari further explained that encroachment is rampant and boundary walls have been broken for construction activities. As leopard numbers increase within the sanctuary, the animals are forced to venture out in search of new territory and prey.
The situation reached alarming proportions when a leopard entered the state capital's VVIP area, Civil Lines, on November 20. The animal was spotted near the official bungalow of Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat before entering Tiny Blossom Senior Secondary School premises.
School staff had to lock children inside classrooms for safety as the leopard moved from one house to another, jumping over walls before being tranquilized two hours later.
Forest Department Admits Challenges
Chief Wildlife Warden Arun Prasad acknowledged that the situation is becoming difficult to control. He revealed that more than 40 leopards are believed to inhabit the 720-hectare Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary, with sightings spiking sharply throughout November.
"We are figuring out the possible reason for it but nothing can be said with surety," Prasad stated. "Leopards can come out of the forest following prey. We are investigating the situation and will take adequate steps soon."
The crisis took a tragic turn earlier when a disturbing video emerged from Gurjar Ghati of Jaipur-Nahargarh Sanctuary showing a leopard being beaten to death by panicked residents. A case has been registered against those involved in the incident.
With sightings rising and panic spreading across Jaipur, the recurring leopard encounters have become an urgent wake-up call that demands immediate and comprehensive action from authorities.
