Kharibari, 10th November: Workers at the Thanjhora Tea Garden in Kharibari are living in terror due to a series of leopard attacks over the past few days. Several workers have been injured while walking along the garden’s paths. Additionally, there have been reports of leopards taking livestock from nearby homes.
In response to the escalating situation, the forest department set up a trap on Saturday night in the 3rd section of the tea garden, near the main road. The trap was baited with goats to lure the leopard. Forest officials from the Ghoshpukur Range, local representatives, and the tea garden manager, have been working together to address the crisis.
Local workers have expressed concern that there may be multiple leopards in the area, leading to heightened anxiety and fear. They claim that these repeated attacks make working and living in the area unsafe.
In order to prevent further human-animal conflicts, the Forest Department has been increasing awareness among the local community and taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of workers and residents, as mentioned by Ranger Promit Lal.
Local officials, including Kishori Mohan Singh, the Chairperson of the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Council, have also extended their support to the efforts of the Forest Department. The authorities are hopeful that the trap will help in capturing the animal and prevent further incidents.