Trap cameras installed in the Neora Valley National Park in Kalimpong district have captured photos of other animals, apart from the royal Bengal tiger, indicating the rich biodiversity of the reserve forest.

Officers of the Gorumara wildlife division said from October to December last year, photos of animals like wild dog, jungle cat, red panda, flying squirrel, clouded leopard and Indian civet were clicked in different areas of the park.

“This time, we have found photos of another carnivore species, the yellow-throated marten. It is a native to the Himalayan area and multiple photos of the species have been shot in different locations of the Neora Valley,” said Dwijpratim Sen, the divisional forest officer of the Gorumara wildlife division, under which the park is located.

According to him, photos of the marten were clicked after a gap of around six years.

In Neora Valley, trap cameras which can shoot videos and click photos have been installed at elevations ranging from 2,200ft to 10,500ft.

“The idea is to cover the maximum possible area of the park. The installation of cameras has worked as we could find photos of royal Bengal tiger last year, which reconfirmed its presence in the park,” said Sen.

The forest department forwarded the photos of the tiger to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, seeking funds for the conservation of the species and the habitat.

The yellow-throated marten, experts said, is an agile carnivore that can jump 20 to 28ft at one go. It secretes a strong-smell liquid in self-defence and is swift in nature.

“We are keeping a watch on this species. Efforts are made to ensure that they have a proper prey base in the park and their habitat remains undisturbed,” said Sen.

Girl killed by leopard in tea garden

Alipurduar: A nine-year-old girl was dragged away and killed by a leopard in a tea garden in Alipurduar district on Wednesday.

Sources said the animal had dragged away Pratikhya Oraon from the Birpara tea estate in the Birpara-Madarihat block around 2pm.

Her family members informed foresters and police who rushed to the spot. They started searching for the girl and found her body on the plantation. The body was sent for post-mortem.

The incident left local people panicked. They have demanded that the foresters put cages to nab the leopard.

In the past five months, four persons died in leopard attacks in and around Birpara.

OUR CORRESPONDENT