The fear of leopards has increased in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality-1 of Tanahu. The locals are terrified of leopards coming into the yard at night and killing domestic animals.
A leopard has killed a goat tied in the barn of a local, Shamsher Pariyar. Nawaraj Mishra informed that the locals were terrified after the leopard attacked the barn near the house.
"After the leopards started coming in the yard at night, the panic has increased," he said. "There is no way to get out of the house at night." According to the locals, they are afraid to go out alone at night due to the fear of leopards. Leopards come to the yard in search of food. Leopards have been a menace in different parts of the district for the past few years. A number of children were killed and several others were injured in the attack.
The Division Forest Office has urged the people to be alert and vigilant against the leopard's attack as the bush grows in the forest area and the leopards' habitat has increased. Now is the breeding season of leopards. Conflicts with wildlife are on the rise. Division One Chief Komal Raj Kafle said, "If we can understand the time and behavior of leopards, it can be avoided."
Leopards have started invading human settlements because of human encroachment. He said that even though the natural food of the leopard is another wild animal, such animals are being hunted and eaten by human beings and therefore people become the prey of leopards. The office has been advising to light the house and make the barn stronger to avoid leopards. Bishal Shrestha, 6, of Bhanu Municipality-3, Dordor, was killed by a leopard for the first time in Tanahu on 2014. Since then, eleven children have lost their lives in different parts of the district due to leopard attacks. The children attacked by the leopard are up to 12 years old.
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