In 18 months, a Surat village farm caught 11 leopards

On Thursday, the leopard was caught after forest officials laid a trap for the animal. The next day, they released it in the forest area of neighbouring Vyara taluka.

Yusuf has been regularly complaining to the forest department about the leopard attacks on his poultry farm. A few days ago, even his pet dog was killed.

“We have spent Rs 35 lakh in erecting a compound wall around our agricultural field and poultry farm. This will ensure the safety of the birds and the labourers working in the farm. In past one-and-a-half-year, leopards have killed seven goats, hundreds of hens and my pet dog. We are also helpless against the leopard menace. We have also instructed the farm labourers to remain close to each other while working in the field. There have been instances where our farm labourers have been injured in leopard attacks, Mahida said while talking to The Indian Express.

The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Anil Vasawa, said, “The leopard is regularly visible in the fields of Yusuf Mahida. In last one-and-a-half-year, we have rescued 11 leopards from his fields and have released them in the forest areas. The reason for this leopard migration is largely because Mandvi taluka is on the banks of river Tapi and the animal can easily hide in the sugarcane fields. They enter in the human habitat in search for food. It is difficult to stop the migration of leopards.”