Jaipur: A shocking human-wildlife encounter in Rajasthan’s Kotputli-Behror district has raised security concerns in forest-adjacent villages and renewed debate over how rural communities are prepared to deal with wild animal encroachment, news agency PTI reported.
According to officials, the incident took place on Saturday in Kharkadi village under Narayanpur area where a 48-year-old farmer was attacked by a leopard while he was working in his field. The man, identified by villagers as Shravan Gurjar, was reportedly collecting fodder for his goats when the animal emerged from the nearby bushes.
Residents said the leopard – believed to be a cub – pounced on the farmer while he was cutting tree branches. Gurjar sustained serious claw and bite injuries during the sudden attack. In a desperate attempt to protect the animal, he struck it with an ax and killed it on the spot, the villagers claimed.
The injured farmer was later taken to a government hospital in Alwar, where he is currently undergoing treatment, PTI reported.
Forest officials confirmed that the leopard carcass has been taken into custody. Forest officer Manoj Naga said the department has initiated action as per wildlife protection rules and an investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The episode sparked conversations on social media, with users expressing concern over increasing human-wildlife encounters in parts of Rajasthan.