Wildlife enthusiast traps man-eater alive in UP forest

A full-grown man-eater leopard who had reportedly devoured three children and wounded at least half a dozen people, was  trapped alive by a wildlife enthusiast in Rana Farm area of Katarniya Ghat sanctuary in Bahraich district, about 130 km from Lucknow on early Friday morning.

"The trap was laid by Bhupendra Singh Rana, who had volunteered to undertake the operation after local wildlife authorities invited help from people in the neighborhood to end the menace caused by the feline," said Uttar Pradesh chief wildlife conservator B K Patnaik.

According to him, "The trap was laid in a camouflaged iron cage into which the animal was enticed with a goat as bait."

Describing it as a big catch, he said, "The leopard had spelt terror in several villages in and around the area where it had been on the prowl over the past two months."

He ruled out the possibility of releasing the leopard in the wild.

"Considering that it has killed three persons and left at least half a dozen other human beings badly injured, we are left with no option but to pack it off to some zoo."