Panic grips Pilibhit’s village after heifer mauled by big cat

Pilibhit: Residents of Kesarpur village, under Madhotanda police station, situated close to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), have been spending sleepless nights after a heifer was allegedly killed by a big cat around 7 pm on Wednesday. The villagers later demonstrated against PTR officials for failing to ensure safety arrangements of residents who live in close proximity to the reserve.
In the absence of prominent pug marks, the officials have failed to ascertain whether the animal is a leopard or a tiger.Nearly a dozen villagers demonstrated against PTR authorities and demanded fencing along the reserve’s boundary.
According to Godhan Lal, the heifer’s owner, they rushed to the animal-shed of his farmhouse after hearing a commotion. The big cat disappeared from the spot leaving the bleeding cow behind. It was later sent to the government veterinary hospital at Madhotanda. Lal also said that another of his cows was killed previously by a big cat.
Meanwhile, range officer of Barahi forest range, Anil Shah, said the spot of attack was hardly 250 yards away from the second bifurcation compartment of the range. He confirmed the attack but said that the pug marks were obscure for them to understand the animal’s character.
Shah also said that a proposal was sent for construction of a 2 metre wide trench along the 6.5 kilometre boundary of the second bifurcation compartment and a 3.5 kilometre long trench of the first compartment in order to restrict movement of wild animals.