Darjeeling abuzz with leopard sighting, foresters lay trap with live bait

DARJEELING: Two days after a leopard was sighted near Happy Valley Tea Estate on the outskirts of Darjeeling, the entire town was abuzz with the news.
While residents as well as tourists excitedly discussed the danger and thrill of a leopard lurking at the edge of the town on Wednesday, foresters were worried about the threat people could pose to the animal and hoped they could rescue it before it came in harm’s way.A trap, a cage with a live bait—a goat—was laid at a strategic location after forest officials did a recce of the area.
The leopard was sighted on Monday night in the Kholi Gairi area of Lumtham village in Happy Valley Tea Estate. Videos of the animal uploaded on social media sites on Tuesday went viral and by Wednesday morning, everyone was talking about the leopard. Locals are also apprehensive about the presence of more leopards in the nearby forest. Residents have already set up vigil parties for the night. “We don’t want to be caught unawares if the leopard comes calling,” said home-maker Deepna Barialy.
Forest department staff conducted a recce of the area on Tuesday and interacted with locals who had spotted the animal. The trap was laid at Kholi Gairi on Wednesday evening. “We have used a goat as bait. We are also taking the help of residents who have better knowledge of the topography,” said assitant DFO S P Sharma.
Just above the tea garden is a forested area, where the leopard is believed to have retreated after being spotted on Monday evening. Sharma believes the leopard lives in a nearby forest and had not ventured from afar. He did not rule out laying more traps if the leopard ventured into one of the villages. “We have kept our staff, armed with tranquilizers, on standby,” he said.
Though there has been no attacks, forest officials are wary of a man-animal conflict. Arbinda Tamang, a local, said he had indeed seen the carcass of a full-grown leopard in the forest. The scars suggested it had been beaten to death.