The elusive leopard of Udaipur’s Gogunda hills, responsible for seven deaths over 13 days, was officially declared a maneater on Tuesday. In response, the forest department issued shoot-at-sight orders and deployed four trained shooters to eliminate the animal.
Army and police shooters were called to the area after the leopard fatally attacked 55-year-old Kamla Kanwar while she was tending to her cattle near her home on Tuesday.
Chief wildlife warden Pawan Upadhyay instructed officials to attempt tranquilizing the leopard first, but if unsuccessful, to shoot it dead.
Officials believe the leopard remains within a 3-4 km radius of its last attack. Despite the presence of livestock, the animal targeted the woman, a repeated behavior that led to its designation as a maneater.
