A sudden increase in leopard attacks in three localities of Malbazar subdivision in Jalpaiguri district has prompted the state forest department to install cages with baits to trap the animals which have been hunting cattle for the past one month.

Around 10,000 residents of Damdim, Teshimla and Kumlai, which are in the sub-division and surrounded by reserve forests, are panicked over the incidents of cattle hunting.

Around 100 cattle have been killed by leopards in their areas in the past one month, they claimed.

“In Dooars, it is a common trend among leopards to sneak into tea gardens or reach localities which are in the fringes of the forests, especially when the females deliver cubs. This is because they find easy prey in the villages and tea gardens to feed their cubs. We suspect some female leopards have strayed into the area and are hunting cattle,” said Dwijapratim Sen, the divisional forest officer of Gorumara wildlife division.

Foresters, he said, are visiting the localities in a regular manner. “We have also put up cages to nab the leopards,” added Sen.

Because of such incidents of cattle hunting, the residents are so panicked that they are staying indoors after dusk. “Even during day time, we are moving in groups through deserted stretches and roads which are close to the forests,” said a resident.