Summary:
With sugarcane harvesting in full swing, the forest department has its hands full – protecting leopards and their cubs.
Shorn off the cover of cane stalks, leopards dwelling amid cane fields stand exposed.
While the adults try and slink away, they often leave behind their cubs.
The separation of mother-cub can cause serious man-leopard conflict.
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With sugarcane harvesting in full swing, the forest department has its hands full – protecting leopards and their cubs.
Shorn off the cover of cane stalks, leopards dwelling amid cane fields stand exposed.
While the adults try and slink away, they often leave behind their cubs.
The separation of mother-cub can cause serious man-leopard conflict.
According to foresters, in the past 20 days, they found eight abandoned cubs in sugarcane fields and managed to reunite them with their mothers.
Farmers have been asked not to harm the cubs or the big cats and inform foresters if they spot any, said M Semmaran, Bijnor divisional forest officer.
He said three leopard cubs were rescued from a sugarcane field in Nagina`s Lakkhuwala village, three in Dhampur’s Sarawa area and two cubs at Niyamatpur in Akbarabad area over the past 20 days.
All were reunited with their mothers.
Semmaran said, “We are trying our best to reunite cubs with their mothers as a leopardess may turn aggressive after getting separated from its cubs.