A large female leopard was successfully trapped inside a specially installed cage at No. 1 Nachani Jokai village located in Assam's Tingkhong on Saturday. This development brings much-needed temporary relief to local residents who have spent nearly a year and a half living under the constant fear of leopard incursions and sudden attacks. Following the capture, Forest Department officials promptly took custody of the wild animal and arranged for its safe translocation to a dense forested habitat.
Months of Livestock Predation and Fear
According to accounts shared by local villagers, the movement of leopards has been frequently reported in and around the settlement for the past 18 months. Throughout this extended timeframe, multiple domestic animals including cattle and goats have fallen prey to the predators. These recurring incidents generated substantial anxiety among the local populace, who grew increasingly terrified that the big cats might eventually target human beings as well, making daily life a continuous ordeal.
Quick Success Through Youth Initiative
As the dangerous situation persisted without official intervention halting the threats, proactive local youths decided to take matters into their own hands. On Saturday afternoon, they took the initiative to set up a sturdy cage at a carefully chosen strategic location within the village to intercept the animal responsible for the repeated livestock kills. Their targeted effort bore fruit almost immediately, as a large female leopard wandered into the enclosure and became safely trapped merely 30 minutes after the setup was completed.
Forest Department Custody and Ongoing Concerns
Right after the successful trapping, Forest Department personnel arrived at the scene to take charge of the captured creature and made necessary logistics arrangements to release it back into the wild. However, community members emphasized that the threat has by no means completely vanished from the area. They reported hearing at least three other leopards growling and stirring up panic at an entirely different corner of the village even after the female animal was hauled away.
Demands for Additional Preventive Measures
Deeply unsettled by the lingering presence of multiple predators, the residents have formally appealed to the Forest Department to step up preventive safety actions. Specifically, they have requested the installation of a minimum of three additional cages at well-calculated spots across the middle and distant edges of the village settlement. Villagers believe that deploying these extra traps is vital to rounding up the remaining leopards, preventing further losses to their livestock, and safeguarding the lives of families residing in the area.
