In a bizarre incident a leopard attacked a 53 year old tracker Suryanath Yadav in the soft release centre of the sambhars under the Bareysanr range of the tiger reserve's South division early morning today. The survivor had to get 10 stitches in his left forearm said the Garu referral hospital doctor J P Sahu where Yadav was rushed to for treatment. Dr Sahu said Yadav was given anti rabies vaccine as well as tetanus shot.
This is the first instance of its kind when a big carnivore like leopard has attacked human being in the PTR. There have been attacks from sloth bear and elephants but never from the leopard.
Sources said the tiger reserve Palamu has more than 100 leopards. Giving details of the ordeal Yadav said that around 6 am, he was doing foot patrolling in the soft release centre of the sambhars when a leopard attacked him.
Reminded that soft release centre is well guarded by net and barbed wire then how this leopard sneaked in to it to which Yadav had no explanation. Mukesh Kumar deputy director South division of the PTR said we are trying to ensure our 18 sambhars there in the soft release centre are safe and whether this leopard has left our soft release centre. Tarun Kumar Singh ranger of Garu West who is due to take charge of the Bareysanr range as well said high sounding crackers have been sent to this soft release centre to shoo away the leopard.