Another Calf Falls Prey To Marauding Leopard In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: Amid panic over leopards lurking in Odisha’s Nuapada district, a carcass of another calf was recovered between Siliyaribahar and Kodopali villages under Dharambandha police limits on Sunday.

The calf belonged to one Goura Sahu of Kodopali, sources said.

“The calf might have strayed into the forest to feed on Mahua flowers and was killed by leopards,” said a villager.

Sahu dreaded going to the forest when the calf did not return home. “When I went to my farmland early morning, I saw two leopards gnawing away at the calf carcass. I rushed back to the village fearing for my life.”

On being informed, a team of forest officials visited the spot in the forenoon and recovered the carcass.

This came a day after a cow was reportedly killed by the bog cat at Taria Mahulabhatta village under Sadar range. About four days ago, a calf was found dead in Jalamadhei village inside Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, while a woman, Sanamati Barik (65), of Jalamadhei village was mauled to death by the big cat when she had gone to collect firewood near her home on March 19.

Two buffaloes and a calf were killed while one bullock and a calf were attacked by leopards, which have been straying into the villages and dragging away livestock from their houses for the last three weeks, the villagers claimed.

At least four such incidents have been reported since March 6 where locals have found half-eaten carcass of their cattle and even spotted the animal.