Leopard attacked the farmer
Moradabad. The persistent presence of leopards in the rural areas of Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, has become a major cause for concern among residents. Dozens of villages in the tehsil have been gripped by fear of leopards for several months. Late Friday night, a leopard suddenly attacked a farmer who was returning home on a bicycle, leaving him seriously injured. Meanwhile, another leopard was captured in a cage set up by the Forest Department in the Samadgarh-Sikandrabad area. A total of 24 leopards have been caught in the district over the past two months, with eight captured from the Kanth area alone.
According to reports, the farmer was cycling home late Friday night. As he reached the stretch between the Budhi Ramganga river and the bridge, a leopard hiding in the bushes suddenly attacked him. The suddenness of the attack gave the farmer no chance to react, and he sustained serious injuries. News of the incident caused panic among the local residents.
Word of the leopard attack spread rapidly through the surrounding villages. Villagers, already distressed by leopard activity, were gripped by heightened fear following this incident. They report frequent sightings of leopards in fields, thickets, and areas near the river, making it difficult for people to venture out after dark.
The situation is particularly worrying for those engaged in farming. Farmers often have to work in their fields early in the morning and late into the evening, frequently commuting between their homes and fields on bicycles or on foot. Due to the presence of leopards, they are now afraid to go to their fields alone.
Amidst this, the Forest Department received some welcome news from Samadgarh-Sikandrabad. A cage had been installed there in response to leopard activity, and another leopard was successfully captured in it. Upon receiving information that a leopard had been trapped in a cage, a Forest Department team arrived at the scene and initiated further action.
The statistics regarding the frequent capture of leopards in the area highlight the gravity of the situation. Twenty-four leopards have been captured in Moradabad district over the past two months alone, with eight of them caught in the Kanth region. Despite this, villagers remain deeply concerned due to continued leopard sightings and attacks across various villages.
Villagers state that leopard activity persists in inhabited areas despite the frequent captures. Dense thickets near farmlands, riverbanks, and deserted paths provide ideal hiding spots for the leopards, forcing people passing through these areas to exercise extreme caution.
Following the recent attack on a farmer, villagers have demanded that the Forest Department step up surveillance in the area. They suggest that additional cages should be installed in locations where leopards are frequently spotted. Furthermore, they urge Forest Department teams to conduct night patrols to prevent untoward incidents.
The fear of leopards is also disrupting the villagers’ daily routines. In many villages, people avoid venturing out alone after sunset, and children are not being sent unaccompanied to fields or along deserted paths. Villagers are visiting their fields in groups and maintaining heightened vigilance at night.
The presence of leopards in the bushy areas surrounding the Budhi Ramganga river has further heightened public anxiety; the attack on the farmer on Friday night also occurred in this vicinity. Following the incident, villagers fear that other leopards may still be lurking in the area, prompting them to demand a large-scale search operation by the Forest Department.
The capture of 24 leopards in just two months is not considered an ordinary figure. A series of recent incidents has highlighted the escalating conflict between humans and wildlife. Despite the capture of eight leopards—particularly in the Kanth area—the problem has not been fully resolved.
The Forest Department now faces the dual challenge of capturing leopards while ensuring the safety of villagers. Key measures being prioritized include identifying sensitive zones, increasing the number of cages, and educating villagers on safety precautions. Residents are also urged to avoid traveling alone along deserted paths at night and to immediately inform the Forest Department if a leopard is sighted.
Discussions regarding leopard activity across the region have intensified following an attack on a farmer and the capture of another leopard in Samadgarh Sikandrabad. While the capture of a leopard in a cage has brought some relief, the attack on the farmer has once again underscored the danger. Given the persistent panic in rural areas despite the ongoing captures, public attention is now focused on the Forest Department’s next course of action.