Leopard spotted near settlement in Kanchanpur, park deploys elephants to drive it off

Shuklaphanta National Park has deployed two elephants to drive off a leopard after it was spotted near a settlement in Imaliya, Beldandi Rural Municipality-5, Kanchanpur.

According to park ranger Bikram Chaudhary, residents had been urged to stay alert after the leopard was seen in the area over the past four to five days. After it kept appearing repeatedly, the park tightened surveillance by installing cameras in the area.

Ranger Chaudhary said the leopard was again caught on camera last night, after which the park decided to send elephants from Shuklaphanta. Elephants brought from the Shuklaphanta post inside the park are being used to drive the leopard away from the settlement and back toward the forest.

Along with the elephants, a Nepal Army team stationed at the Beldandi post for park security, as well as park staff, have also been mobilized to drive off the leopard. Ranger Chaudhary also said reports indicate the leopard is near a nearby sugarcane field, and local residents traveling through the area have been urged to exercise caution.