Jaipur, Aug 29 (IANS) A panther that injured five people in attacks over two consecutive days in Kheda village, Umarda, near Udaipur city, was finally captured in a Forest Department cage on Saturday morning, bringing relief to terrified villagers.
The Forest Department team tranquilised the animal after it was trapped and later shifted it to Sajjangarh Biological Park. Officials said the panther had returned to the area early Friday morning, with its movements captured on camera traps, but despite approaching the cage, it did not enter.
The animal continued to move within a radius of around 1.5 kilometres from the attack site. With the village evacuated and forest officials maintaining round‑the‑clock surveillance, no further attacks were reported. Tracking its movements, the department deployed an additional cage, more camera traps and extra personnel.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (North) D.K. Tiwari, along with around 40 forest personnel, camped at the site to monitor the panther. On Friday, officials inspected the attack site and identified likely movement routes. Sand patches were prepared along these routes to track pugmarks, which confirmed the animal was moving within a limited radius. An additional cage was installed, and on Saturday the panther was trapped, tranquilised and transported to Sajjangarh Biological Park.
The panther had attacked five people over two days. Logarlal Meena, 45, died in the attacks, while Jagga Meena, 60, Hitesh, 20, Kalu, 40, and Logri Bai, 45, were injured. All four injured victims are reported to be stable.
The first attack took place late Tuesday evening when a young man was injured. Villagers initially resumed routine activities the next morning. However, at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the panther attacked again, injuring three people and triggering panic. Later, at 1 p.m., it attacked a woman, intensifying fear among residents.
Following the series of attacks, villagers evacuated Kheda and took shelter in government buildings and relatives’ homes. They have not yet returned, but the capture of the panther has brought major relief to the affected community.
--IANS
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