Tingkhong residents trap leopard after 18 months of livestock raids

Guwahati: A large female leopard is off the prowl in Tingkhong. Local youths trapped the animal in a cage at No. 1 Nachani Jokai village on August 29. The beast walked into the trap just 30 minutes after the villagers set it up that Saturday afternoon. The capture ends 18 months of constant fear for the local population.

For over a year, livestock including goats and cattle suffered frequent attacks. Residents watched their animals die and feared for their own safety. Forest Department officials took custody of the leopard shortly after the trapping. They are moving the predator to a forested area.

The relief is short-lived. Residents reported hearing three other leopards growling at the far end of the village even after the capture. The threat persists. Locals are now pressuring the Forest Department to act fast. They want three more cages installed at strategic spots to clear the remaining animals. As one villager noted, the situation remains tense as "the threat from other leopards remains."