Man-animal conflict on rise: 5 leopard attacks in last 10 days
Darjeeling: Instances of human-leopard conflict is on a steady rise in Dooars. While two leopards were found dead, one was critically injured by the workers of a tea estate in Dooars in the last three days.
On the other hand, there have been five incidents of leopard attack in the past 10 days. The carcass of a leopard was found in the 34 Section of Gargenda Tea Estate in Alipurduar on Thursday. It is in the same place that the carcass of another leopard was found
on Wednesday.
In both the cases, pesticide used in the tea gardens was found in the stomachs of the leopards in autopsy.
"A group of tea garden workers are behind this. They have been strewing the area with poison laced meat for the leopards to consume. We will take stringent action against the persons found guilty," stated Kumar Bimal, DFO, Jaldapara.
In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, a leopard landed up in a cage-trap put up by the Forest department in Dhumchipara Tea Garden, following a series of leopard attacks, one of which led to the death of a 12-year-old-boy.
The workers beat up the caged leopard with bamboo poles, grievously injuring the animal. Intervention from the Forest department personnel managed to save the life of the leopard. At present, it is undergoing treatment.
In the past 10 days, there have been five instances of attack in the Dhumchipara tea garden and Ramjhora area of Dooars. Two persons including a 12-year-old boy and a 5-year-old have been killed
by leopards.
Though there is census of tigers, elephants and rhinos, there is no census of leopards. Wildlife experts feel that the leopard count has increased considerably over the years.
This has made human habitats including tea gardens adjacent to forests highly vulnerable. Leopards usually venture into tea gardens in search of food (usually livestock) and even to give birth.
The workers and residents of tea gardens are in constant fear. Both their lives and livelihood are at stake.
"We have to sensitise the locals specially tea garden workers. For this, we will seek the help of NGOs and also tea garden management. The situation is turning highly volatile in this region by the day," stated Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife North.
Meanwhile, three persons have been arrested in connection with the rhino death on Tuesday. The arrested include Haren Rai and Gopinath Rai of Dhupjhora and Baburam Rai of Chalsa. The forest officials have not yet divulged the details including the role of the trio in the death of the rhino.
On December 25, the carcass of an adult rhinoceros had been recovered from Gorumara National Forest in the Jalpaiguri district. The horn of the rhino was sawed off.
