Look Out! A leopard that wandered into a city in eastern India went on a rampage, killing one man, swiping off part of another man’s scalp and injuring three other people before authorities tranquilized the animal. The big cat attacked a 50-year-old lawyer as he talked on his cell phone Sunday evening outside his house. He was rushed to hospital where he died.
Four other people were injured, including a man who had part of his scalp torn off by the animal in a dramatic episode captured by a local newspaper photographer. Gauhati wildlife official Utpal Bora says authorities plan to release the animal at a wildlife park about 120 miles west of the city.
Four other people were injured, including a man who had part of his scalp torn off by the animal in a dramatic episode captured by a local newspaper photographer. Gauhati wildlife official Utpal Bora says authorities plan to release the animal at a wildlife park about 120 miles west of the city.
For the people of Guwahati, bomb blasts and other terror attacks were not uncommon till recently, because of repeated attacks by the secessionist United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), but a leopard straying into a town is rare, particularly during the day. The leopard was first sighted on Saturday morning near a crematorium in the town. "First, it jumped across several multi-storey buildings, including a bank, and then jumped on to the ground," said Manas Paran, photojournalist for the Sunday Indian magazine and an eyewitness.
Local people armed with sticks and iron rods tried to chase the leopard away. The enraged animal then started attacking locals, Mr. Paran told BBC. Deb Kumar Das, aged around 50, was one of the first people whom the leopard clawed at. He suffered severe wounds to the head, ear and neck. He was treated in hospital several others suffered the ire of the big cat. One of them, Kripesh Dey, had part of his scalp removed in the attack.
Later, when the leopard entered a shop, locals locked it up. Forest officials and vets reached the scene after some time with tranquilizers and were able to capture it."After it was tranquilized and treated in Guwahati Zoo, we released it in the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary today", said Utpal Borah, head of the zoo.
This incident has once again brought to fore the conflict between humans and animals in India. Assam's forest officials say humans are encroaching onto leopard habitats. Residential areas built right in leopard habitats have become vulnerable to such attacks. This is the second death from leopard attacks in five years. My opinion on this is that if the leopard wondered into the city before it could come back again and cause harm.
Sources:
CBS News
ABC news
Annalys Fuentes
outdoorlifesurvival.com
Frances Irizary
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