Panicked villagers in the tribal-dominated Dhariyawad forest range in Pratapgarh district of Rajasthan are taking turns to guard their homes and safeguard their kids and livestock after a panther has attacked three humans in quick succession over the past nine days. The big cat which is now on the prowl has already killed a ten-year-old girl, while two others are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The young feline had even targeted livestock tied near human habitation. Its "unnatural behaviour" has brought people on the roads who are demanding the administration and forest officials trap or kill the panther. Forest officials have shot a letter to the Chief Wildlife Warden seeking permission to tranquilize and even shoot the animal dead as it is becoming a source of unbridled terror in the forest
According to sources, the panther has terrorized a large area of 500 hectares where several tribal villages and hamlets are nestled.
"In this area tribals live in small settlements and the distance between two habitations is huge. The incidents have been occurring in the forest area that falls under the Jhadoli section of the range where we have a check post as well. Villages like Dhafla, Sabapla, Dara and others where the human population is in good numbers are situated in the interiors," said AS Gothwal, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), Pratapgarh.
Officials said the panther is in the same location after it made the last kill, however, none of them have been able to sight the feline. "We have created ten teams to find the feline and inform the villagers of security measures. In addition, we have already put up cages on four tracks which the feline is known to frequent. Raw meat and fish have been kept in these cages to lure the feline in. Camera traps have also been installed in the affected area to find out more about the feline," the DCF said, adding, "Two days back the locals blocked the main highway demanding the feline be trapped."
The DCF has written a letter to the Chief Wildlife Warden to give permission to either tranquilize or shoot the feline. "I have shot a letter to the CWW and informed him of the developments in detail. We have sought permission to either tranquilize and shift the animal elsewhere or shoot it as it would be a huge danger to the lives of locals. Senior officials will discuss the issue and give us the required permission," the DCF said.
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