Vadodara: Yet another incident of a leopard attacking a child was reported in the Vavkundali village of Ghoghamba taluka in Panchmahal district. This is the third incident of its kind in the taluka including two in Vavkundali itself.
Sources said that on Wednesday night, a leopard entered a dwelling near the farms in the Vavkundali village and dragged away a five-year-old girl from the house. Villagers informed forest officials as well as the police. The body of the child was found at some distance later in the night.
Earlier, a leopard had snatched away an eight-month-old boy from its mother in the same village on July 30. After this, a leopard dragged away a four-year-old boy on the night of August 15 from Malu village. Malu is located near Vavkundali heightening concerns. Officials do not rule out the possibility of the same leopard being involved in all three incidents.
Chief conservator of forests Dr Anshuman Sharma said that 11 cages were placed in the area to trap the leopard. He added that most houses in the area where the attacks took place are located very close to the farms and are in isolated locations.
Sources said that officials were concerned because, in all the incidents, parts of the body were eaten by the leopard. Earlier, two leopards including a male and a female were trapped by forest officials. The last of the two leopards were caged on August 27. With no let up in the attacks, it is believed that the big cat responsible for the attacks may still be at large.
Sources said that on Wednesday night, a leopard entered a dwelling near the farms in the Vavkundali village and dragged away a five-year-old girl from the house. Villagers informed forest officials as well as the police. The body of the child was found at some distance later in the night.
Earlier, a leopard had snatched away an eight-month-old boy from its mother in the same village on July 30. After this, a leopard dragged away a four-year-old boy on the night of August 15 from Malu village. Malu is located near Vavkundali heightening concerns. Officials do not rule out the possibility of the same leopard being involved in all three incidents.
Chief conservator of forests Dr Anshuman Sharma said that 11 cages were placed in the area to trap the leopard. He added that most houses in the area where the attacks took place are located very close to the farms and are in isolated locations.
Sources said that officials were concerned because, in all the incidents, parts of the body were eaten by the leopard. Earlier, two leopards including a male and a female were trapped by forest officials. The last of the two leopards were caged on August 27. With no let up in the attacks, it is believed that the big cat responsible for the attacks may still be at large.