Leopard injures 21-month-old baby girl, mother saves her child's life by snatching her from the leopard

TANAHUN, March 18: In less than three months of a leopard taking the life of a toddler, another child of the same age has been attacked by the wild species. A leopard pounced on Sanskriti Neupane, the 21-month-old daughter of a local of Shuklagandaki Municipality – 3 on Monday evening hurting her on her legs, stomach and other parts. The baby was playing alone at the front-yard of the house and her mother was inside to wash clothes. The mother came outside as she suddenly heard her baby cry when she saw that a leopard was attacking the baby. She then snatched her baby away from the leopard. On 29 December, 22-month-old baby boy Rabin Nepali was killed by a leopard. His dead body was found behind the house. 

"This is the second attack by a leopard in less than three months. Her mother was busy washing clothes in the bathroom inside the house and the baby was playing outside. But when the leopard attacked the child, the mother sensed it and rushed to save her," said Police Inspector Jagadish Ghimire, Chief of Belchautara Area Police Office. "The baby is receiving treatment," he added.  Sanskriti was taken to Tanahun Sewa Hospital. After primary treatment she was referred to Manipal Hospital in Pokhara. According to Ghimire, she is out of danger. 

Nepali's death had quite alarmed the locals. They had begun to patrol at night and take other precautionary measures. However, yet another attack on another child has now left them extremely nervous. Leopards often roam around human settlements at Bankewa, Udedunga and Kalimaryang, among other villages of Tanahun. Human-wildlife conflict has gotten serious over the time due to the gradual loss of forests. 

A seven-year-old boy Anup Nepali was also attacked by a leopard five days ago. The boy from Yampa village of Bandipur Rural Municipality – 5 is still receiving treatment at Gandaki Hospital of Pokhara. 

As per the records of the division forest office of Tanahun, leopards have attacked humans 17 times in the last two years. And a total of nine children have lost their lives in leopard attacks. The others were injured. 

Locals have urged the government to take the issue seriously and intervene. However, the solution is far from sight as the leopards keep sneaking into 'human territory' in search of food and water. Reports state that a huge number of water sources have dried up in the last few years and similarly the ever shrinking jungles have left them with little choice. The locals have asked the government to invest for their safety. 

 
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