Leopard which mauled to death a 4-year-old girl in Budgam, caught alive
A suspected man-eater leopard, which attacked and killed a 4-year-old girl in central Kashmir district of Budgam earlier this month, was caught alive by the Wildlife department on Tuesday from a nursery.
Meanwhile, the locals have breathed a sigh of relief as the entire area was terrified following sightings of the wildcat in the nursery from the last over 10 days.
Official sources said that the leopard was spotted by locals in a nursery near the Deputy Commissioner (DC), office, Budgam. “The operation in the nursery was intensified and after strenuous efforts, the wildcat was caught alive in a trap setup by the wildlife department officials,” they said.
They said the leopard was then tranquilized and taken away to Dachigam National Park. “Required tested as per protocol will be conducted on the wildcat,” they said.
“The scat samples of the leopard are being sent to match with those already taken from the site where the minor girl from Ompora was mauled to death by a man-eater leopard,” they said.
However, they said the pug marks of the animal and the pattern of its movement indicate that it is the same leopard that killed the minor.
The 4-year-old girl was attacked and taken away by a leopard from the lawn of her residence in Ompora area in Budgam on June 3. The mauled boy of the minor was recovered in the nearby nursery on June 4 after a massive search operation was launched by official of police, wildlife department and locals.
UNI
