A panther, suspected to have been involved in attacks on villagers, has been caught in Sariska forest area in Alwar district, bringing to an end a massive hunt which was launched to track down the killer big cat.
Forest officials said the panther was caught on Tuesday in Jaitpura village. So far four people, including three women, have been killed in the peripheral villages of Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR).
“His body size, pugmark, area of movement and absence of a lower canine indicate that it is the same panther which attacked the villagers recently,” Sariska field director RS Shekhawat said. Adding, “We will wait for forensic reports for a confirmation”. The panther has been sent to the Jaipur zoo for a medical examination.
STR deputy field director Balaji Kari said after a female panther was caught in Gopalpura village on Saturday, forest teams noticed that a panther was moving between Jaitpur, Govindpur, Silibaodi and Ramji Ka Gwada villages. Four people were killed by a panther in these villages between February 5 and 12.
The department put five cages to trap the animal. “The panther dodged the trap on three nights and ventured into these villages and attacked cattle and dogs. On Monday morning, it fell into the trap,” said Kari.
{{/usCountry}}The department put five cages to trap the animal. “The panther dodged the trap on three nights and ventured into these villages and attacked cattle and dogs. On Monday morning, it fell into the trap,” said Kari.
{{/usCountry}}The official said, on Sunday night, the panther returned from the forest area and entered Jaitpura village where it attacked a calf but people woke up and chased away the big cat. The 10-year-old male panther then went towards Sant Ka Khola forest area where it was caught.
The panther caught on Monday is the fourth feline to be caught from Sariska.