Leopard kills child in Tanahun; jackals bite 9 in Rukum

By Our Correspondents

Tanahun/Rukum, Nov. 3: A leopard killed a child in Ward No. 12 of Vyas Municipality of Tanahun district Monday evening.

The deceased has been identified as eight-year-old Abhinab Kunwar, son of Jagadish Kunwar. 

According to Tanahun’s assistant forest officer Rajkumar Shrestha, Abhinab was attacked by a leopard when he was playing outside his house at around 6:15 pm. 

“The leopard had taken Abhinab around 200 metres away from the house. The locals had initiated the search for Abhinab as soon as they found about the attack but it was already late,” said Shrestha.

Nine days ago, 11-year-old Bina Chepang from Ward No. 3 of Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun was also killed in a leopard attack.

Similarly, nine individuals from Musikot Municipality in Rukum West district were injured in jackal attacks. Among the nine injured, one was attacked Monday evening while the others on Tuesday.

Akki Kumari Budhathoki from Ward No. 4 of Musikot was attacked on Monday. She is receiving treatment in Surkhet.

Om Prakash Pandey of Ward No. 4, Bhupendra Budha of Ward No. 10 and Gedlal Giri, Ram Bahadur Bohora, Dipa Bohora, Urmila Bohora, Patra Bahadur Mahatara and Sabita Gautam of Ward No. 6 were bitten on Tuesday. They are receiving treatment in the district’s hospital.

Locals argued that the number of jackals had increased in the areas like Tyakhola, Mathilulo, Ghaidanda and Jhinja among others and have been attacking people on sight. They stressed that it had been difficult to leave the homes in the evening.

Meanwhile, some attacks were recorded inside the house as well. The animals have not been taken under control yet.

According to the data from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 24 individuals have died and 100 others injured in animal attacks until November 1, 2022, since April 14, 2022.