Security personnel of the Nepal Army and the Nepal Police have been deployed in Dhikura and Khanchikot forests in Arghakhanchi district to search man-eating leopards. A team of the National Trust for Nature Conversation (NTNC) of Chitwan, comprising a sharp shooter and wildlife experts, has also been assigned for the purpose. But they could not trace any of the wild beasts until Saturday evening. 

In the past two weeks, two children have been killed in leopard attacks in Bhalukhola. As many as 11 children have been killed by leopards in the district in the last five years, leaving people of Dhikura, Khanchikot and Bhalukhola in constant fear. 

Following locals’ demand for security, the District Security Committee (DSC) mobilised the security team armed necessary equipment to capture the killer cats. 

“The difficult terrain makes the task of searching leopards very challenging. We will search the leopards for six days in the forests,” said Harkaman Lama, the shooter of the NTNC. 

The wildlife experts have a plan to capture the leopards in a cage and take them to a national park. Wildlife technician Prakash Chaudhary said that they would shoot the 

killer cat if they failed to capture them.

People said they are now afraid to walk around their villages and children fear to go to school. Thamman KC, a local man of Bhalukhola, said that they are finding it increasingly hard to walk around the villages alone. “We dread going to work on our farm land. Our children are not safe even in the courtyard,” said KC. 

District Forest Officer Deepak Gyawali said that the leopards might have started entering human settlements in search of prey. “The leopard attacks might have increased with the loss of their habitat due to the growing encroachment of forests, farming and other human activities,” said Gyawali.

Three injured in bear attacks

DOLPA: Three persons have been injured in separate attacks by Himalayan black bear at Tripurasundari in the district. Rana Bahadur Budha and Maniram Bohara of Tripurasundari-4 were injured as the beast attacked them at Handu on Friday.

The victims had gone to the area to graze sheep. The injured are receiving treatment at the district hospital. Likewise, a black bear attacked and injured Bishnurup Thakulla of Tirpura-sundari-3 in a local forest the same day. (PR)