Leopard terror in Tikapur

Tikapur (Kailali), Aug 9: Fear has spread in Tikapur after a leopard started killing domestic animals since a week in this town in Kailali district of Sudurpaschim province. The leopard has been killing goats, dogs and chickens here daily.

Phirulal Tharu, a wildlife technician at the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NNTC), said a trap has been laid to capture the wild cat. He said the leopard would be brought under control sooner or later, and urged people not to panic.

“The locals have said that they have seen three leopards. We are trying to capture them,” he added. Fear has spread among the people after the leopards started killing goats even to the point of emptying the goat pen.

A joint team of the Bardiya National Park and the NTNC has arrived in Tikapur at the request of the Tikapur Municipality after the leopards started killing goats daily.

The team comprising of wildlife technician at the Bardiya National Park, Jaga Narayan Chaudhary, NNTC wildlife experts Tharu and Kararu Chaudhary, Nepal Police personnel and the City Police has started its work of capturing the leopards. Teams have been mobilized to various places to search for the wild cats.

Leopard killed the locals’ goats and chickens on Thursday night as well, said Mohan Luhar, Ward Chair of Tikapur Municipality-1. He said the leopard has killed around 22 goats at Block B and C of Ward No 1 and at Ward No 17 and 18 of the municipality. Some goats have been wounded.

Locals said the leopard has killed an equal number of chickens and dogs. The wild cat killed 26 chickens at Block No 17 on Thursday night alone. The leopard with two of its cubs ran away after the locals started making noise, said Ramesh Khadka, a local.