New Delhi: In light of an upsurge in cases of leopard attacks in several areas of Uttarakhand, including the state capital, the government has appealed to the public to help in mitigating man-animal conflicts, news agency PTI reported.
Principal Secretary for Forests R K Sudhanshu outlined on Wednesday that night patrols have been increased in residential areas next to forests that are susceptible to such conflicts. Detailed safety instructions have also been released for the public. He further added that cages have been put up where leopard attacks have occurred resulting in deaths or injuries to young children and Divisional forest officers (DFOs) have aslo been asked to monitor the situation constantly.
Dehradun, Tehri, Pithoragarh Pauri, Terai East, West and Central are among the places identified as "sensitive" from the point of view of human-wildlife conflicts, officials said, PTI reported.
Recently, a leopard attacked a 12-year-old boy in the Rajpur area of Dehradun. He is currently undergoing treatment. In other instance, a leopard mauled a four-year-old boy to death in the Udham Singh Nagar district after he had gone to the forest to gather fodder.
Local councillor Kamal Thapa said that people in the Jakhan and Canal Road areas of Dehradun have stopped going on morning walks due to panic and shopkeepers are forced to down the shutters at least an hour earlier than usual.
Another resident Sandip Rawat told PTI, "Reports about leopards attacking children have scared people so much that it is the only topic of discussion among them these days, I do not go for morning walks anymore". He added that the forest department had issued an alert on Wednesday, advising people to travel in groups rather going out alone.
In the advisory, the government urged people to remain alert if the presence of any wild animal is detected.
"One should enter such areas only when absolutely necessary between sunset and sunrise and exercise extreme caution during this period. Children should be encouraged to go to school in groups. While going through forest areas, carry a stick," the advisory said. "In case you encounter wild animals, be careful and maintain a safe distance. Avoid going near any wild animals or taking photos. If any wild animal is accompanied by its children/cubs, then take special care. Regularly prune the bushes around cowsheds, toilets and houses and make adequate lighting arrangements," it added.