Udaipur, October 18, 2024 - Forest Department officials have shot dead a leopard in the Madar area this (October 18) morning. It is being widely reported that this leopard is the man-eater animal that had killed eight people in the past month in Udaipur’s Gogunda and Jhadol areas. The news sent a wave of relief over local residents who had been living in fear due to the increasing frequency of leopard attacks in the region. However, officials are yet to confirm whether this leopard is the same man-eater for which a search operation has been on for the past several weeks.

Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Sunil Chidri informed the media that a preliminary investigation is still underway. "While we are relieved that the leopard has been neutralised, it is too early to make an official declaration regarding whether this was the man-eater responsible for the recent deaths. We are conducting thorough investigations, and an official statement will be made soon," he said.

The surge in leopard attacks in Udaipur over the past several weeks has sparked panic, particularly in rural areas where people work in the fields and live close to wildlife habitats. One of the most recent victim was 65-year-old Mangi Bai, who was attacked by a leopard while working in her fields in Bada Madar. She succumbed to her injuries after being hospitalised.

Forest officials have been on high alert, intensifying efforts to track down the man-eater. The recent deaths have intensified calls for improved wildlife management and safety protocols for local communities and underscoring the need for a balanced approach to wildlife conservation and human safety.