Photos: Baiting a leopard on the prowl in the fields of Haryana
Updated On Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
Residents of villages around Farrukhnagar in Haryana are living in fear as a big cat, spotted 10 days ago, is yet to be rescued. They said they are unable to move out to even relieve themselves due to the fear of the animal, suspected to be a leopard. Wildlife officials deployed in the village haven’t slept in 10 days and are on their toes as villagers call them every two hours after finding pug marks. Although wildlife officials confirm the leopard’s presence, they haven’t been able to locate the animal. HT’s Sanchit Khanna captured the anticipation of the village.
1 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
This cat was found dead with claw marks and signs of struggle late Thursday night, at Patli village near Farrukhnagar in Haryana. Pug marks from a big cat were also discovered nearby leading villagers to suspect the animal on the loose. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
2 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
A youth reported spotting a leopard on Thursday while working in the mustard fields at Saidpur village in Haryana. A group of six men have divided duties for patrolling near the area. Villagers say they are hardly able to sleep for two hours. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
3 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
The region has had a leopard scare on an earlier occasion. Panic gripped Mandawar, located 26 kilometres from Gurugram, after a leopard entered the village on November 24, 2016. Residents of the village beat the big cat to death after a three-hour chase. Seven villagers were injured in the incident and rushed to the nearby Sohna Civil Hospital. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
4 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
Villages and officials of the wildlife department search for the leopard’s pug marks in the fields of Patli, after the big cat was captured roaming the fields in the night on CCTV cameras. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
5 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
Krishan Kumar, a guard with the wildlife department, inspects the cage that was placed to trap the leopard in Patli village on Thursday. Officials said they found pug marks of the animal near the cage but it was not trapped. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
6 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
Karambeer Dhankhar, a resident of Patli village, said six street dogs have gone missing in the last seven days and villagers suspect that they have been killed and eaten by the big cat. “We are unable to rescue the leopard. The wildlife officials are not well equipped and are short of manpower, due to which the rescue operation is taking so long,” he said. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
7 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
This dog, which spotted the leopard in the early hours of Friday was said to be in a state of shock, sitting silently in the confines of its owner’s house, unresponsive to calls and refusing to step out. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
8 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
This family of thirteen, including four children, is scared to move out of the house once the sun sets owing to fears of a big cat on the prowl, in Saidpur village, Haryana. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
9 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
Wildlife officials camping at Patli village collected pug marks of a leopard using Plaster of Paris on Friday morning. The samples will be sent to a laboratory in Dehradun. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
10 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
A control centre has also been set up to monitor the live feed from the cameras. Wildlife officials said their preliminary report has confirmed the presence of a leopard in the area. The leopard was captured by CCTV cameras installed in the area to track the animal. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
11 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST
An official from the police department looks for signs of the leopard at Patli village. Vinod Kumar, additional principal chief conservator of forests, said authorities have requested villagers not to move alone at night. Challenges remain as street dogs keep repeatedly entering the cage placed to trap the leopard and have to be removed, impeding the work of the wildlife team. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
12 / 12
Updated on Jan 19, 2019 01:08 PM IST