Two separate wild animal attacks in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district left five people injured within a span of 24 hours, triggering heightened alerts along villages near the India–Nepal border and prompting intensive search operations by forest and security agencies.
On Thursday, a leopard attacked two men in Chanaini village under the Nawabganj area of Bahraich district. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ram Singh Yadav said the animal was sighted close to the village, which lies near the international border.
The injured were identified as Nagesh Kashyap (30) and Dheeraj Yadav (50). According to officials, the two were attempting to escape after noticing the leopard when it mauled them. They were rushed to the district hospital, where doctors said their condition was stable and out of danger.
The leopard incident came barely a day after a tiger attack in Pachpakri village under the Rupaideha Forest Range, also located near the Nepal border. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday morning, left three people injured, including a 10-year-old girl.
The DFO said the child, Sanjana (10), was on her way to the fields with her cousin when the tiger emerged from the forest and attacked her. Her screams alerted nearby villagers, who rushed to the spot shouting and carrying sticks, forcing the animal to retreat back into the forest.
Villagers reported that Radhemohan (60) and Ankit Verma (20), who arrived after hearing about the attack on the girl, were also injured by the tiger on their way to the scene. While all three victims were admitted to the district hospital, the elderly man was later referred to Lucknow in a serious condition.
Forest department teams, along with police personnel and the Sashastra Seema Bal, have launched combing operations at both locations to track the animals and prevent further incidents. Officials said drones, CCTV cameras and pugmark tracking are being used to locate the leopard and the tiger and guide them back into forested areas. Villagers, particularly children, have been advised to remain indoors, avoid crowding and follow safety precautions until the situation is under control.
The DFO cautioned residents against approaching wild animals or attempting to take photographs, noting that such actions often provoke attacks. He urged people to immediately inform forest officials instead of trying to corner or harm the animals themselves.
Human–wildlife conflict in India is intensifying as shrinking and fragmented habitats, driven by roads, mining, urban expansion and climate stress, push animals into human landscapes in search of food and water. Elephants, tigers, leopards, wild pigs, and even monkeys are increasingly venturing into farms, villages, and towns, triggering crop damage, livestock losses, and human casualties.
Leopard–tiger conflict in India is largely driven by habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and shrinking wildlife corridors, which are pushing both big cats into human-dominated landscapes. As tiger populations recover, they occupy prime forest cores, forcing leopards into fringe zones, farms, and villages where survival is harder. Easy prey such as livestock and waste turns settlements into ecological traps, increasing attacks on people and animals. Displaced or weaker bog cats also stray into human areas, escalating risk.
(With inputs from PTI.)
Where did the wild animal attacks take place?
The incidents occurred in Chanaini village under the Nawabganj area and in Pachpakri village under the Rupaideha Forest Range of Bahraich district, both near the India–Nepal border.
How many people were injured in the attacks?
Five people were injured in total — two in the leopard attack and three in the tiger attack.
What action have authorities taken?
Forest department teams, along with police and the Sashastra Seema Bal, have launched combing operations using drones, CCTV cameras and pugmark tracking to locate the animals and prevent further incidents.
What precautions have been advised for villagers?
Residents, particularly children, have been advised to stay indoors, avoid crowds and immediately inform forest officials if a wild animal is sighted, instead of approaching it or attempting to take photographs.