Bijnor: The district administration and the forest department issued an alert after leopard sightings surged following the wheat and sugarcane harvest.Over 120 villages have been marked sensitive, with officials estimating more than 500 leopards hiding in sugarcane fields.Since January 2023, leopard attacks have claimed 36 lives, with incidents involving farmers, women and livestock increasing as the animals move closer to villages in search of prey and water.District magistrate Jasjit Kaur directed officials to set up cages in affected villages and raise awareness to prevent human-animal conflict. The forest department has installed over 100 cages and is using drones to monitor and capture the animals.Residents have been advised to work in groups, avoid isolated areas at dawn and dusk, and promptly report sightings.
