Owner seeks solution to stop predators
CANACONA
A leopard killed two calves in a cowshed a Shellim-Loliem in the wee hours of Monday.
The owner of the cow shed, however, prevented the leopard from killing other cattle in the shed.
Vilas Aiya, who resides near the cowshed, heard the cries of his cattle and rushed to the site, only to see a leopard jumping out of the cowshed and disappearing into the darkness.
Aiya, who was aghast to find two young calves lying dead in a pool of blood, later told reporters that had he not to have intervened at that time, the leopard would have killed more cattle from his shed.
“Previously, a similar incident had taken place and a leopard had taken away a calf. When the leopard heard sounds of people approaching, it abandoned the calf and fled away,’ said Aiya.
“Instances of wild animals killing dogs, fowls and cattle have been a regular feature here, but authorities are still not in a position to work out a solution.”
“At that time, I had complained to the forest department, and they laid a trap with their dog in the cage, but even after a month the leopard was not caught, and finally the cage was taken away by the forest department.”
He feared that if the government does not do enough to resolve the issue, Loliem village could be deserted in a few years.
“If anyone cultivates fruits or vegetable for their own consumption, monkeys, birds and other wild animals destroy them. If you plant any fruit bearing trees you won’t get an opportunity to savour it, but it will be destroyed by wild animals. Plantations are no more profitable any more,” lamented Aiya.
Speaking further, Aiya said: “If wild animals like wild boar, bison and leopards are killed, the government takes swift action, but the same government is doing nothing to stop wild animals from attacking and killing domestic animals, destroying plantations and even threatening human lives in certain areas.”
