A leopard attacked and injured four people at Bansauli village under Pathariya police station of Damoh district on Thursday.
The forest department team, along with police force, has cordoned off a nullah on the outskirts of the village, where the animal is probably hiding and rescue teams have been called from Pench Tiger Reserve and Jabalpur.
According to the divisional forest officer (Damoh) TS Chaturvedi, villagers spotted a leopard on a tree in Bansauli village on Thursday morning and as the news spread, locals reached the spot in large numbers.
Forest personnel were also informed and they rushed a team to the spot.
Meanwhile, it would appear that some villager teased the animal and it rushed towards the village and on the way, attacked four persons, injuring them on their face, back and chest. The injured have been hospitalised.
Forest officials said the big cat has been hiding in a nullah and that they expect it to escape in the night. There are no forests for around 6-7 km in the area, after wich the Ramna forest area begins.
According to forest officials, the leopard was probably attracted to the area because of the large number of blackbucks.
Officials of the forest department have said if their efforts fail, they would tranquilize the leopard as a last resort.
According to forest officials, the leopard was probably attracted to the area because of the large number of blackbucks.
Officials of the forest department have said if their efforts fail, they would tranquilize the leopard as a last resort.