Amid heavy rains, forest dept issues advisory on leopards

Bijnor: Forest department has issued an advisory concerning an estimated 300 leopards in the district of Bijnor, which may stray into human habitats amidst the incessant rains.
A forest official said, “Leopards often become aggressive during the rainy season as their habitats are submerged by heavy monsoon rains, causing them to stray into human areas.We are conducting awareness campaigns in villages near or within forested areas.”
Bijnor sub-divisional forest officer Gyan Singh said, “Last year, leopards killed 20 people and injured over 50 . Authorities observed that leopards ventured into dry areas due to waterlogged sugarcane fields caused by continuous rainfall, increasing attacks on humans.”
“Leopards have made sugarcane fields their habitat for years. With the fields now waterlogged, the animals experience discomfort and suffocation when the sun rises, and mosquitoes further irritate them. This forces leopards to move into dry areas, resulting in conflicts with humans,” he added.Harveer Dabas