In a harrowing incident, four individuals, including two wildlife department officials, a woman, and a policeman, sustained injuries following a leopard attack in the Fatehpora area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a leopard wandering in the vicinity on Wednesday morning, sparking fear and alarm among local residents. Promptly, the wildlife department was alerted to the situation.
According to witnesses, the leopard pounced on the wildlife department officials while they were in the process of setting up a trap to ensnare the animal, resulting in injuries to the officials and the accompanying policeman. Earlier, a woman had also fallen victim to the same leopard.
All the injured individuals were swiftly transported to the district hospital in Ganderbal to receive medical attention for their wounds.
Following concerted efforts by rescue teams comprising personnel from the wildlife department, police, and forest protection force, the leopard was successfully captured.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by both wildlife officials and local residents in areas where human-wildlife interactions occur. Efforts to mitigate such encounters and ensure the safety of both humans and animals remain paramount in such regions.