J&K: Fear after leopard sightings in Srinagar

Residents of Natipora in Srinagar claim they spotted a leopard in the area sparking a search by officials from the Wildlife Department.

Srinagar:Residents of Natipora area in Srinagar have been grappling with fear over claims that a leopard was spotted there Saturday night. Officials in the Wildlife Department said that a team has been rushed to the area to ascertain the claims.

The residents of Natipora said that they spotted a leopard on Saturday night and alerted the administration. Immediately, the locals made a loudspeaker announcement warning people not to move out of homes during the night.

Rashid Naqash, Regional Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, told ETV Bharat that a team was rushed to the area on Saturday accompanied by local police to verify the claims of locals. Naqash said the team has not established the presence of the leopard after searching the area.

Over the last few years, leopards and bears have been increasingly spotted, according to reports. Last week, a four-year-old girl was mauled to death in Budgam in Central Kashmir.

As per officials, 228 persons were killed and 3,350 injured in the last 14 years in man-animal conflict. Officials said that 52 percent of all leopard attacks in Kashmir occurred close to habitations during the spring season and many attacks occurred during the daytime.

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