A leopard that was suspected to have killed a girl at a village in Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri district was caged on Monday early morning.

Foresters reached the spot and tranquilised the leopard. They said the animal would be kept in an enclosure and its behaviour would be monitored for some days.

On October 19, Sushila Goala, a 12-year-old girl from Dakhin Kherkata village of the block, was attacked by a leopard.

The animal dragged her away and later, her body was found in a nearby forest.

After the incident, foresters visited the village and installed two cages, where cattle were kept as bait.

On Monday morning, the villagers heard a leopard growling and found it trapped in one of the cages.

Teams from Diana and Khunia forest ranges reached the village. Nagrakata police also arrived.

“We have requested the foresters not to release the leopard in the Gorumara National Park that is nearby. We were worried after the incident and today, all of us are relieved,” said a villager.

Dwijapratim Sen, the divisional forest officer of Gorumara willdife division, said the foresters had darted the leopard and taken it to the leopard rescue centre in South Khairbari of the neighbouring Alipurduar district.

“It would be kept in an enclosure to monitor its activities and habits,” said Sen.

Leopard on tree

Residents of a tea estate in Malbazar block of Jalpaiguri district chased three leopards on Monday, prompting one of the animals to climb a tree.

Sources said over the past few months, residents of the Manabari tea estate, which is near the Chel river, had sighted leopards. The animals were also taking away cattle and poultry from the workers’ quarters.

When some workers reached the plantation to pluck tea leaves, they spotted three leopards in a drain. More labourers arrived and gave the animals a chase.

While two leopards ran away, the third animal panicked. More people gathered in the area.

The leopard, apparently confused, climbed a tree and squatted on a branch as people reached there to catch a glimpse of the animal.

A team from the wildlife squad stationed in Malbazar went to the area. They asked the people to maintain a safe distance to prevent any attack by the animal.

Sen, the DFO, said the foresters were keeping a watch on the leopard. “If required, we will tranquilise the animal to shift it from the tea estate to the forest,” he said.

Around 6pm, the leopard jumped on the ground from the tree. Foresters said the
animal ran away and entered a neighbouring patch of forest.