Shopian, Dec 27: At least four persons, including a Wildlife Department official, were injured in a leopard attack in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday, triggering panic among residents and highlighting the growing instances of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the area.
Officials said the Wildlife Department received an alert after a leopard was spotted in the Sofanaman area of Shopian. Shortly after, the animal entered nearby Pinjoora village, creating fear and chaos among locals as it moved through residential areas.
Following the alert, a team from the Wildlife Department rushed to the village to track and tranquilise the animal.
However, during the operation, the leopard turned aggressive and attacked four persons, including a Wildlife Department official identified as Abdul Hamid Mir.
The injured were immediately shifted to a nearby health facility, where their condition was stated to be stable.
An official of the Wildlife Department said that after a prolonged operation, the leopard was successfully tranquilised and captured.
“The animal was later shifted to a safe location as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),” the official said. “The situation was brought under control to prevent further harm to residents.”
Locals said the incident caused widespread panic, with people confining themselves indoors for several hours.
Many residents expressed concern over the frequent movement of wild animals into human habitations, especially during evening and early morning hours.
Experts attribute the rise in such incidents to shrinking forest cover, habitat fragmentation, and increasing human activity near wildlife corridors.
In recent years, several areas of south Kashmir have witnessed leopard sightings, often leading to injuries, livestock losses, and heightened fear among villagers.