KHOTANG, Feb 18: Farmers of southern parts of Khotang are having sleepless nights as leopards have started preying on their cattle from the sheds. 

Since the last few months, leopards have terrorized Dambarkhushivalaya of Jantedhunga Rural Municipality. Locals have not been able to take their cattle for grazing as they are not safe even in their sheds. On Friday night, Ganesh Chaulagain of Dambarkhushivalaya hurriedly rushed toward his cattle sheds as soon as he heard his goats screaming. By the time he reached the shed, a goat was already killed by a leopard. 

Some of the farmers have lost their cattle while taking them for grazing in the jungles. During evenings, leopards do not just enter the settlement but also make terrifying sounds creating panic and chaos among the locals. Gajadhar Acharya, a teacher of Panchakanya Primary School, informed that the locals have not been able to have a sound sleep since the rampaging leopards started roaming in their villages.

Few days ago, five goats belonging to Kedar Roila were killed by leopards. His goats were attacked by leopards one by one when they were grazing. Likewise, goats of Ratna Bahadur Rai and Man Bahadur Roila were also preyed by leopards in their sheds.

Not just their cattle but the locals have started fearing for their own lives. People don't prefer walking alone especially at night time due to the fear of being killed. They adopt various antics to chase away leopards. As per the locals, some leopards walk in groups. During daytime, they go to the hills for basking in sun, making it difficult for the locals to go there to collect timber and fodder. It is believed that the leopards started attacking domestic animals after finishing the rare species of deer found in the jungles.

 
• leopards
 
• terrorizing
 
• villagers
 
• southern
 
• khotang