Leopard Attacks in Gujarat: Rising Incidents Spark Concern

Two 6-year-old girls were injured in separate leopard attacks in Gujarat's Navsari district. The incidents have prompted forest officials to take measures such as setting up traps and releasing prey animals in a bid to keep leopards away from human habitats.

Two 6-year-old girls were injured in separate leopard attacks in Gujarat's Navsari district, officials announced on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, a leopard attacked Siddhi Patel in Upsal village of Vansda taluka while she was walking home with her mother, according to Assistant Conservator of Forest JD Rathod. She sustained injuries on her neck, ear, and chest, and has been hospitalized. To catch the leopard, the forest department has installed cages, trap cameras, and CCTV cameras.

In another incident late Thursday evening, a 6-year-old girl was attacked and injured at Motivalzar village in the same taluka. She has been admitted to a hospital in Surat. Valsad Member of Parliament Dhaval Patel visited the hospital on Friday to meet the child.

Amid an increase in leopard attacks, Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel stated that his department is making arrangements to keep leopards away from human habitats. Measures include caging leopards that enter settlements and releasing chital, a prey animal, to ensure leopards remain in the forest.

(With inputs from agencies.)