A female leopard linked to the death of a seven-year-old girl has been cage-trapped in Bahraich’s Bhatta village, where the Forest Department had intensified surveillance and capture efforts after the fatal attack. The animal was trapped at around 7pm on Saturday in the same location where Poonam was killed on November 5.
The capture took place under Karikot Gram Panchayat in the Nishangara range of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division. Forest officials shifted the leopard safely to a designated holding facility after it was trapped, according to Apoorv Dixit, divisional forest officer of Katarniaghat.
Dixit said the animal would remain under the supervision of forest officials while the department follows the prescribed standard operating procedure for rescued wildlife. Any further action, including a decision on relocation, will be taken only after the required permissions are obtained from the competent authorities.
The Forest Department had deployed a cage trap at the site after the November 5 incident. The capture was carried out without causing harm to the leopard, Dixit said, adding that established protocols were being followed for handling and managing rescued wildlife.
The incident also highlights the continuing pressure on communities living near forest boundaries and agricultural fields in Bahraich. The leopard trapped in Bhatta is the 23rd leopard rescued in the district this year, according to the report, indicating the scale of recurring encounters between people and wildlife in the region.
Villagers in and around forest-adjacent areas have been advised to remain cautious, particularly during the current season. Dixit urged residents not to enter forest-side areas without necessary precautions and asked them to stay vigilant while working in or travelling through agricultural fields.
The leopard’s capture does not immediately settle its final disposition. The Forest Department is expected to determine the next step under the applicable wildlife-management procedure after securing approval from the competent authorities. Until then, the animal will remain at the designated holding facility under official supervision.
