HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT | Leopard mauls minor girl to death in Budgam village

Budgam, Mar 28:  A leopard mauled a minor girl to death in a village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday.

Six-year-old girl Toiba Mushtaq, daughter of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, fell victim to the vicious leopard attack in Hariwani area, officials said.

Her lifeless body was discovered by horrified villagers on the lawns of her home, marking the second such incident in the past 17 days.

Following the incident, authorities launched a massive operation aimed at capturing the elusive leopard responsible for the attack.

Cages had been placed in neighbouring villages following the previous incident while the wildlife officials intensified their efforts to rescue the young girl and catch the leopard.

There have been several leopard attacks in the region recently.

Just over two weeks ago, a nine-year-old girl met a similar tragic fate in the nearby village of Samsan, succumbing to injuries inflicted by a leopard.

Another minor boy narrowly escaped with injuries in a separate incident, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the growing threat posed by these predatory animals. KNO