Lucknow: An elusive leopard that has been terrorising residents of Sharifabad village in Haidergarh forest range for nearly 50 days was caught on camera while moving through agricultural fields, prompting the forest department to intensify surveillance in the area.The video, recorded by a villager and later circulated on social media, showed the big cat moving through fields near the forest.According to resident Ramjeet Kashyap, he had gone to harvest tulsi along with his father, mother and sister when he heard a growling sound from nearby bushes.Suspecting the presence of a leopard, Ramjeet took out his mobile phone. Moments later, he spotted the animal and managed to record a video before raising an alarm. The leopard disappeared into the adjoining forest.Villagers said they had been informing the forest department about the leopard’s presence for nearly 50 days. Concern among residents grew after five cattle were allegedly attacked in the area. However, locals alleged that the department’s initial response was limited to placing a cage in the area.DFO Akashdeep Badhawan said the area lies between Gomti river and the forest, and the leopard had been moving between Barabanki and neighbouring Amethi district, making it difficult to pinpoint its exact location.The department has now installed five night-vision trap cameras to monitor the animal’s movement. A cage placed earlier has also been reactivated.The DFO urged villagers not to surround, chase or pelt the animal with stones, warning that such actions could provoke the leopard and increase the risk of an attack.
