Prayagraj: Man-Eating Leopard Captured After Six Months of Terror in Jhunsi Area

After nearly six months of fear and panic, the man-eating leopard that had terrorised residents across Jhunsi and four adjoining police station areas in Prayagraj was finally captured alive on Thursday. The operation brought relief to thousands of villagers who had been living under constant threat.

The leopard, which had injured nearly a dozen people and killed several small livestock over the past few months, was trapped after a dramatic 10-hour-long rescue operation by the Forest Department. However, before being captured, the animal attacked and injured two villagers in Chhivaiya village.

How the Leopard Was Caught
According to officials, the leopard entered Chhivaiya village around 5 a.m. on Thursday in search of prey. Alert villagers spotted the animal and raised an alarm. Surrounded by noise and human presence, the leopard turned aggressive and injured two people within moments.

In a desperate bid to escape, the leopard leapt into a farmer’s house. Showing remarkable presence of mind, the farmer moved his family members to safety, locked the leopard inside the house, and later helped evacuate everyone through a ventilator. This swift action prevented a major tragedy.

Forest Department Launches Operation
Upon receiving information, local police reached the spot and immediately informed the Forest Department. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Arvind Yadav arrived with his team but noted that capturing the aggressive leopard without tranquilising it was extremely risky.

As no wildlife tranquilisation expert was available in Prayagraj, a veterinarian, Dr Nasir, was called in from Kanpur Zoo. He reached the village by afternoon and began the delicate operation to sedate the animal.

10 Hours of Intense Effort
After hours of careful planning and execution, Dr Nasir successfully tranquilised the leopard. Forest officials then safely removed the sedated animal from the house and placed it in a cage. The entire operation took nearly 10 hours and required coordinated efforts from forest personnel, police, and villagers.

The Forest Department stated that the leopard has been sent for a medical examination. Once it recovers fully, it will be relocated to a safe and secure habitat away from human settlements.

The successful capture has brought much-needed relief to the residents of the affected areas, ending months of fear caused by the elusive and dangerous predator.