Leopard attacked at Bamondanga tea estate

Leopard attacked at Bamondanga tea estate

14 January 2013

statesman news service

SILIGURI, 14 JAN: A female adult leopard is fighting for its life after angry residents severely beat up the animal at Bamondanga Tea Plantation in the Dooars today.

Forest officials rescued the leopard and started treating her. The condition of the leopard is gradually deteriorating, according to forest officialssaid.

The forest officials were initially informed that a leopard had attacked three persons in the tea plantation area this morning. Two of them were being treated at a local hospital, while the third person was admitted to Jalpaiguri District Hospital.

The forest officials are still in the dark as to when the villagers attacked the leopard critically injuring the animal. The wildlife division has already started inquiring into the alleged attack on the leopard. The forest officials also came to know that the villagers had found the leopard yesterday morning but nobody had informed the matter to them. A senior forest official said: “We could have trapped the beast and saved its life and prevent the angry villagers from attacking it. However, nobody informed us about the leopard.” Senior Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Sumita Ghatak said: “Our staff members rescued the injured leopard after being informed by police. The animal was unconscious having failed to bear the villagers’

assault. The animal is undergoing treatment. We do not know about the fate of the animal.”

“We are trying to collect more information so that appropriate action can be taken against the culprits who provoked the villagers to attack the leopard,” she said.