A tragic incident unfolded in Pauri district of Uttarakhand on Thursday, where a woman in her 60s was mauled to death by a leopard while collecting fodder near a forest. This marks the second wildlife-related fatality in the state within 48 hours, following a tiger attack that claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman in Nainital the previous day.
Details of the Incident
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, was gathering fodder when the leopard attacked her. Villagers later discovered her body approximately 20 meters away in the bushes. Her husband, Surender Prasad, reported that the animal had consumed parts of her neck and stomach. Expressing concern, he stated, "The leopard must be trapped or eliminated soon, as it poses a grave threat to children, the elderly, and livestock in the area."
Precautionary Measures
In response to the attack, authorities closed around a dozen schools in Bamti village for two days as a safety measure. The forest department has intensified monitoring efforts to prevent further incidents. Pauri range officer Nakshatra Shah confirmed, "We have obtained permission from the state forest headquarters to install at least three cages and 15 camera traps. A 15-member quick response team has been deployed to track and trap the animal."
Compensation and Investigation
Shah added that the family would receive compensation following the postmortem report. The forest department is actively investigating the incident and working to secure the area. This attack underscores the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region, prompting calls for enhanced preventive strategies.
