Leopard Mauls 11-Year-Old Girl to Death During Pilgrimage in Gujarat

Junagadh : In a tragic incident, an 11-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard during the annual 'Lili Parikrama', a religious pilgrimage around the Girnar mountain in Junagadh district of Gujarat. The incident took place on Friday morning when the girl, identified as Payal Sakhan, went into the nearby bushes to defecate while on the pilgrimage route.

According to Payal's maternal uncle Babubhai, the leopard grabbed Payal by the mouth and dragged her into the forest. Hearing the commotion, the family members rushed to the spot but could not save the girl. Forest department officials were informed immediately, and a search operation was launched. The girl's body was found later in the day, about 50-70 meters away from the spot where the attack took place.

The forest department has deployed a team to track down the man-eating leopard and has warned people not to venture into the forest area except on the designated pilgrimage route.

Forest Department to Compensate the Family

The forest department has announced compensation of Rs. 4 lakh to the family of the deceased girl. The department has also assured the family that all possible measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

Man-Eating Leopards a Growing Concern

Man-eating leopard attacks have become a growing concern in Gujarat, particularly in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2020, there were four leopard attacks on humans, of which two were fatal.

The forest department has attributed the rise in man-eating leopard attacks to habitat loss and the depletion of the leopard's natural prey. The department has been taking steps to address these issues, including increasing forest cover and providing alternative food sources for leopards.

Villagers Demanding Action

Villagers in the area are demanding immediate action from the forest department to prevent further leopard attacks. They have called for the installation of solar lights along the pilgrimage route and the deployment of more forest guards.

The forest department has assured the villagers that their concerns will be addressed. The department is also working with local communities to raise awareness about leopard conservation and to reduce human-animal conflict.