The leopard which had terrorised residents of Prateet Nagar in Raiwala near Rajaji national park has not been sighted for some days now.
The big cat had attacked at least three children of which one had died. The forest department has kept three cages in the area and is continuing patrolling with the assistance of WWF.Forest officials believed that the leopard responsible for the attacks might have done so in an injured state and could have recovered from the injury which is why it has not been sighted for some days now.
However, it is also probable that the leopard in question could be an old animal incapable of killing its natural prey.It will be recalled that the department had placed three cages and intensified patrolling in the Raiwala area following the leopard attacks. The attacks on children took place on March 6, March 9 and March 27.
According to the Rajaji national park field director SP Subudhi, all the three children were clawed by the leopard which did not use its canines on the kids.
“I have a hunch that the big cat could have been injured in a fight with another leopard and attacked the children while recuperating from its wounds. It could have come near the human settlement to seek shelter and easy prey-dogs while recuperating. Its wounds might have healed and the big cat could have left the area. However, we can’t take a chance as there is also the probability of an old leopard being responsible for the attacks as old age or injury might have rendered it unfit to hunt its natural prey. So we have kept the cages in place and are continuing patrols in the area which has forests of Chilla range on one side and forests of Motichur range on the other. Installing lights outside the homes and turning them on for some time after dark could protect the residents as seen in BHEl where lights prevent leopards from nearing the area,” he said.