Anantnag: Panic gripped Anzwalla, Anchidora, Chee and Shamshipora villages of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district after a leopard was spotted by several residents, prompting fear and restricting movement in the area.
Residents said the animal was most frequently sighted in Anzwalla and has reportedly been roaming the locality for several days. Earlier, dogs were found mauled near the Ziyarat Sharif of Hazrat Mohammad Shah Sahib (RA), heightening anxiety among villagers.
Due to fear of an attack, residents said they even avoided venturing out for predawn (fajr) prayers. One local told the Free Press Kashmir that multiple accounts are circulating in the village, including an incident in which the leopard allegedly attempted to pounce on a young man, who narrowly escaped while stepping out of his house.
On Tuesday, a team from the Wildlife Department reached the village and installed a trap cage in an attempt to capture the animal. However, the cage was later removed after the leopard was not sighted. Officials also used a sheep as bait inside the cage to lure the animal, but no success was reported till the filing of this report.
Wildlife officials advised residents to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary movement, especially during early morning and late evening hours, and stay alert. They cautioned people against moving alone, asked them to assemble in groups if stepping out becomes unavoidable, and urged parents to keep children indoors. Residents were also advised to secure livestock, keep their surroundings well-lit at night, and immediately inform authorities about any fresh sightings.
Officials said sightings of wild animals increase during winter in Kashmir as heavy snowfall in forest areas reduces natural prey availability. As a result, predators like leopards often descend toward human habitations in search of food, increasing the risk of human-wildlife encounters.
The Wildlife Department said it is keeping a close watch on the situation and will intensify monitoring in the affected villages to ensure public safety.
Earlier on the night of December 18, a five-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in the Srigufwara area of Bijbehara, Anantnag.
The big cat attacked the girl outside her home and dragged her into the nearby bushes. Her body was found after the police and rescue teams launched a search. The incident has triggered panic in the area, the officials said.
Later, PDP leader Iltija Mufti visited the victim’s family and offered her condolences. Iltija called it a grave reminder of the growing human-animal conflict in the region.
