The Bengal forest department set two traps at different locations in Samsingphari of Jalpaiguri district on Saturday as some local people claimed that they had spotted Himalayan black bears in the area.

“The traps have been set up to cage the bears. Watch parties, comprising forest department staff and local people, have been formed to monitor the situation and keep the residents safe,” said a forester.

In Cooch Behar, residents living close to the Rashikbeel — a waterbody where migratory birds flock — got panicked as some of them sighted a leopard on Friday.

Foresters placed a cage there to trap the leopard.

On Saturday, the forest department also carried out a drive against a section of fishermen in the Rashikbeel who had been fishing in the waterbody in contravention of rules.

An official of the department said as migratory birds flocked to the waterbody every year, there was a ban on fishing in the Rashikbeel during the winter.

However, a section of fishermen were violating the order. Today, we have seized 37 fishing nets and have alerted them. If anybody is found fishing in the water body before the restrictions are removed, we will take legal steps against him,” the official added.