BIJNOR: Forest department officials said that the primary reason behind increase in man-animal conflict is changing behavioural patterns of leopards, which have started looking for easy prey.The department has captured around 20 leopards and nine cubs in the past eight months in Bijnor, and most of the felines showed signs of increased weight and lethargy, officials said.In the past six months, leopards have killed 15 humans and injured close to 50 in the district, where according to an estimate, 150 leopards thrive, mostly in sugarcane fields.Easy availability of prey has made the big cats fat because of which they are not able to hunt with the same prowess as they used to, earlier. Almost all the captured cats had bigger abdomens which is a sign of increased weight. Besides, we have set up camera traps at 30 places in Bijnor. Pictures captured on cameras show big cats have become fat. We had captured a leopard some days ago, and it weighed above 90 kg, said sub-divisional forest officer Gyan Singh. Singh added, Tigers have pushed the leopards out of the forest, which is why leopards have sheltered in sugarcane fields. They are thriving in the fields and subsist on stray cattle, rabbits, jackals, dogs, etc. When they were in forest areas, they had to work hard to catch deer, wild boar, etc. They seem to be unfit. In addition, there is no predator of leopards in the fields.An officer, requesting anonymity, said, Leopards have started considering humans as their easy prey. This has led to an increase in man-animal conflict, and villagers will have to take precautions to avoid leopard attacks. They are still unaware of how to avoid leopard attacks, and they need to learn to identify pugmarks and wear neck pads and helmets while venturing into fields. Farmers should go to fields in groups and make noises while working.Notably, the forest and agriculture departments had suggested agrarians change crop schedules by growing other crops instead of cane. However, farmers want to continue growing cane as it is a cash crop.

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