After Tigress Avni, Shoot-To-Kill Orders For Leopard In Uttarakhand

Just weeks after tigress Avni was killed in Maharashtra, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has issued shoot-to-kill orders for an alleged "man-eating" leopard in Bageshwar!

What?

The Uttarakhand Forest Department declared a leopard in the Bageshwar area a "man-eater" last weekend after villagers complained the cat killed two children. The leopard was spotted in the village on Sunday and the activities to take it out began on Tuesday this week. 

The Man Behind The Order

The order was issued by Bageshwar MLA Chandan Ram Das of the BJP. He demanded the leopard be put down, because the big cat is believed  (not proven), to be behind 2 deaths in the Dhyanagan village. Villagers believe the leopard is responsible for the death of a 7-year-old boy and a15-year-old boy (who died from a jump while being chased by the leopard). 

Chandan Ram Das

The Shoot-To-Kill Task Force

At present, reports indicate that professional shooters have been brought in from Almora to hunt down the animal since the terrain is rough and it is "difficult to set up traps."

And just like the case of tigress Avni, there is no forensic evidence as of now to support the claim. What's more perplexing? This order comes from the same state that made a landmark ruling that declared all animals in the territory have the same rights as humans.

Like this?

Read: Uttarakhand HC declares that All Animals Have Equal Rights As Humans

Read: Tigress Avni Killed, Sign The Petition To Save Her Cubs