TV
Panic has once again returned to Kholibhitar village, nestled inside the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, following a wild animal attack on livestock. On Saturday night, a big cat reportedly entered a local cattle shed and left a calf severely injured.
The incident took place at the residence of Dharmu Chindha, a villager who said, "The leopard entered my cattle shed at around 1 am and attacked a calf. We rushed in with lights and raised an alarm, which forced the animal to flee into the forest."
Responding to the incident, a team from the wildlife department visited the spot on Sunday morning and launched an investigation. While initial fear suggested a tiger, preliminary findings indicate it may have been a leopard responsible for the attack.
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To monitor the animal’s movement, two trap cameras have been installed in strategic forest locations. Wildlife officials are also conducting awareness drives to educate villagers on safety precautions and how to respond to wild animal encounters.
Residents, however, remain on edge. Another villager said, “Tiger terror has gripped the area for the last three months. Many goats have been killed. The big cat is not afraid of humans and often ventures into our village.”
With repeated attacks and sightings over recent months, the fear of man-animal conflict continues to loom large in this region of Nuapada district.
Wildlife officials have assured that they are taking the matter seriously and are working on immediate mitigation steps.
