Forest officials on Saturday issued orders to kill two ‘maneater’ leopards in Bijnor district as attempts to capture the animals have failed thus far.
An order issued by principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) (wildlife) Anjani Kumar Acharya stated that the leopards have hunted and killed 12 persons and, as such, have become dangerous. The permission to kill the big cats was issued using powers given in section 11(1) of the Wildlife Act, 1972 and after a report from the chief conservator of forests of the Bareilly zone.
Acharya, however, asked the officials to take the step only if further attempts to neutralise the animals failed, it was learnt.
Commenting on the development, conservator of forests-Moradabad division Ramesh Chandra said, “Being a forest official, I can say that it’s a painful decision to eliminate an animal, but under the prevailing situation this is the only option left.” He added the standard operating procedure would be followed before taking any step against the animal.
Meanwhile, farmers’ organisations had been mounting pressure on forest officials to kill the leopards, which, they claimed, killed 13 people in the past seven months. The Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) activists were protesting at the district collectorate since August 3.