In the Soiklan area of Shopur city, people are currently discussing not politicians or movie stars, but a leopard. This predator was released into Kuno National Park several years ago with high hopes. Now, however, it has left the forest boundaries and is found in the fields of the villages. For the past three days, villagers have been closely monitoring its movements.
The incident occurred in the village of Gurunauda, where people have noticed a leopard in the fields over the last three to four days. Sometimes it runs between fences, sometimes strolls near the edge of crops, and sometimes disappears into distant bushes. Those who saw it were initially unable to believe their eyes, then recorded videos on mobile phones, and soon the entire village began discussing these recordings.
Some residents are glad to see a leopard in the open space for the first time, while others are frightened by how safely they can walk in the fields alone, as they need to engage in agriculture and graze livestock. There is a fear of what to do if a leopard suddenly appears. This fear has intensified the tension in the village.
After receiving information about the leopard, the forest service team took action. Monitoring groups are constantly tracking its movements to understand its direction and ensure it does not approach populated areas too closely. R. Tirukural, Director of the Kuno National Park Forest Fund, stated that leopards living in the open forest naturally move over large territories. The department is continuously supervising and will deploy additional groups if necessary.
The forest service has asked residents not to go into the fields alone, especially in the morning and evening, and to be highly vigilant. If a leopard is spotted, one should not try to approach or surround it, but immediately report it to the forest service. Currently, there are 19 leopards roaming freely in Kuno National Park, while 31 leopards are in enclosures. Their activity is being monitored. Sometimes a leopard leaves the established zone due to its natural behavior and enters adjacent areas.
However, this is not a common occurrence for the local residents. For them, this is the first time they have had to consider the presence of a leopard in the fields alongside their crops. On one side are the fields, on the other the forest, and between them moves a leopard. Anxiety is growing in Gurunauda and neighboring villages. No one knows when this guest of Kuno will return to the forest. In these Shopur villages, the morning of the last three days does not begin with discussions about the weather or agriculture, but with the question: where was the leopard today?
