Forest fear: Villagers grow weary as leopards maul livestock

By Muhammad Sadaqat

Published: October 15, 2014

The big cats often sneak into surrounding villages in search of food and attack grazing cattle. PHOTO: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

ABBOTABAD:  Over six farmers have paid the cost of living close to forest areas. Villagers on Wednesday said leopards have killed at least 13 goats and two cows in Galiyat during the last 30 days.

Locals told the media the wildlife department has over 40 pairs of common leopards which belong to Ayubia National Park. The big cats often sneak into surrounding villages in search of food and attack grazing cattle.

According to Master Safdar of Khan Kalan village, the areas most frequently visited by these leopards are Saranda, Bakot, Khan Kalan and Khan Khurd. He added the big cats killed three of his goats last week. He also named others who suffered similar losses.

Zakir, who lost one of his goats to the leopards, said all the farmers are poor and rear cattle for a living. He added they have small land holdings where they leave their cattle to graze in the morning and come back to round them up in the evening. This, he said, was something they had been doing for decades.

Now, Zakir said, it was becoming impossible for them to take their cattle to areas bordering forests for fear of leopards.

Another farmer, Abdullah, has lost three goats in the past one month. He estimated he incurred a loss of about Rs50,000, saying each goat costs between Rs15,000 and 20,000. Abdullah warned residents of the area would pick up guns to protect their livestock and would not hesitate to kill the leopards if the wildlife department does not take steps to protect villagers from such attacks.

The district wildlife officer was not available for comments, but an official introducing himself as Aslam Khan said most incidents are reported from villages bordering forests or those that lie within the forest limits. He claimed grazing animals in the reserved forests was banned but villagers often violate the restriction, making themselves vulnerable to attacks.

In response to the warning of villagers killing the cats out of frustration, Khan stressed it was prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act and the offenders would be liable for fines and punishment. However, he said efforts were under way to ensure the leopards do not venture out of the forests in search of food.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2014.

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