Special Forest Squad Deployed To Trace Leopard That Killed Minor Boy In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: Even as Forest and Environment Minister Pradip Kumar Amat expressed concern over killing of a minor by a leopard in Odisha’s Nuapada district on Monday, the Forest department deployed a special squad to trace the big cat.

Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Nuapada DFO Mahadeo Budak expressed his grief over the death of the boy in leopard attack in Katingpani village under Dharambandha police station in the district.

Though the villagers on Monday claimed that they had spotted two leopards moving in the forest close to their village, the DFO said they had information about a leopard in the area.

“A special squad of Forest officials has been formed to trace the leopard and track its movement through trap cameras which have been installed in the area under Nuapada forest range,” he said.

Besides, the department is taking steps for fencing and lighting of the area in the periphery of the range. The Forest officials will also promote awareness about the threat from wild animals, he added.

Stating that Rs 50,000 has been paid the family of the deceased boy, the DFO said the rest ex gratia amount of Rs 6 lakh as fixed by the state government would be given to the family after completing the official procedures.

Meanwhile, Forest Minister Pradip Amat expressed his concern over the death of the boy in leopard attack. Speaking at a conference of the DFOs in Bhubaneswar, he told the Forest officials to take measures to prevent man-animal conflicts and ensure protection of the people vulnerable to attack of wild animals.