Indian Leopards: In the Killing Fields

2004, Nature  -   20 Comments
8.79
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Ratings: 8.79/10 from 42 users.

This story is one of many in India today. When darkness falls the stage is set for the maneater. The village is alerted as the child is abducted. The search is on but the girl was nowhere to be found. A man-eating leopard has killed the girl.

To understand the ways of the leopard we must first understand the ways of life of the vast majority of people living in the rural areas of India. Their stories are dramatic and their experiences horrific.

Alerted by recent reports of leopard attacks on cattle and people, not very far from the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, authorities decided to go on a nightly vigil to ascertain leopard sightings and to instill a sense of security amongst the terror-stricken villagers.

The villagers are seen carrying weapons to protect themselves from the leopards. Sixteen leopards have been caught in the last three months and the department decides to put cages in the fields to capture them. For the villagers the nightmare is real and will last for days to come. The girl's body was found... half eaten by the leopard.

For the girl's family the situation is unbearable. They're still trying to fathom what happened. The mother and the girl were sleeping outside and the leopard just snatched the child from the mother's lap. The mother even tried to run after it shouting "come back" but the animal jumped away and disappeared into the dark. No explanations will ease their pain and no arguments will make them understand and accept.

Much smaller than its cousins, the lions of Africa and the tigers of Asia, the leopard relies on its power and stealth. This is a predator that can strike fear into any victim, including mankind. The leopard is on the endangered species list, granted international protection, but is it acceptable kids to be snatched from their playgrounds and villagers to be killed at night? With new fatalities weekly, the question lingers... leopards or people.

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20 Comments / User Reviews

  1. Mark A LaJoie

    Increasing population encroaches on the territory of predators. When their normal prey is driven away, the predator will adapt.

  2. human

    They're too many intersting videos in this site, the problem is that we d'ont need to haave narrow minds, and we post only what we like and reject others subject that we dislike, others things is that some youtubers are very excellent with efforts thaat makes, but frankly I understand the psychology of religious terrorists, and the Arabs of middle east, I d'ont feed them at all, after what I've witnessed, and did meet some of them, in this world they're a lot things bad and good, and thats whats make our world nice place to live in, others things, they're few countries are doing very wrong in term of privacy, they invading it, abuse it with their power, cctv camera, spying inside the close door, suspecting innocents people, labeling them with things that they're not, is just like genocide and crime against humanity, the Islamists that have ruined a lot countries, and they're still looking to do so in countries like Algeria, I hope they'll achieve nothing. I've never seen how very bad dirty mouths these nefarious individuals are, but just like I've said to many others, the countries who feeding them and they know themselves very well, should take their responsibality about the mess, they've created around the world. I hope this dirty job will stop as soon as possible if not later, and these draconians will never get power. not only hat I've witnessed with ears but also after long researchs and digging that I've made trough all recent years. Thank you all Yours Sincerely Youtuber and ex Liveleaker.

  3. DianneMyers

    They dont give a crap about girl babies. One less dowery. They will make another one. But a leopard that is rare.They need to move back 50 miles.I would bet they are not Buddist.

  4. Will

    A tragedy for the family at the beginning. That being said, this will continue to occur as we, mankind, continue to encroach on wildlife territory. No easy answer to this dilemma. Mankind for the most part have no respect for any other animals, as we kill and / or eat everything. We will never achieve it , but a better way of living would be like the North American Indians, who only killed what they needed and used pretty much all of the animal" Modern day man due to attitudes and population numbers have no regard for anything, other then filling their faces, Oil, minerals, etc etc. We continue to degrade and damage the planet we live on. Think on this, not even a dog shits where he sleeps, but we do. Their will not be much left after 2 more generations, other then pollution and poisoned land / air and water

  5. happyMephisto

    I agree,if your house cats were as big as you,they would eat you.Thats because with out your gun you are to cowardly and insipid to do anything about it.You torture and eat other animals too, and half of them go into a garbage can.Waste not ,want not.

  6. happyMephisto

    @jaberwokky:disqus What God?And dose other specimens also include other people.

    1. jaberwokky

      The one true noodly God, the flying spaghetti monster.

      I sometimes forget that humour can get lost or misinterpreted when commenting so my apologies.

    2. AntiTheist666

      Aha, a Pastafarian, begone you fowl heretic. The Flying
      Teapot is the one true god.

    3. jaberwokky

      A flying Teapot you say? Blasphemy!

      I love a good strong cup of reductio ad absurdum first thing in the morning ;)

    4. AntiTheist666

      Yeah well my flying teapot predates your FSM so there! You're right though it's turtles all the way down. But hey, I hear they're delicious.

    5. happyMephisto

      I hear ya.

  7. xxDarkSidexx

    well I got to say it and i'm sorry but, Don't live near the dangerous animals? people bring this on themselves, I just dont understand why people choose to live like this, go closer to the main towns, cities, it's like why do people want to live below volcanos? or recently the mudslide in america that killed those people in oso, there was a major mudslide around that area 8 years ago yet people continue to live and build there, here in the UK people living by the sea side on the cliffs and slowly as the weather got bad it took part of the cliff down time after time finally taking there homes into the sea, THEN people moan and blame the governments and councils for not sorting it out or investing money in flood defense etc etc, I dont want to go to the beach and see big thick gray concrete walls around it just because you were stupid enough to buy a home next to the sea, seriously, it's your home! you chose it, you look after it! come on people you have the gift of what all other creatures dont have, thats intelligence, @ucking use it!

  8. happyMephisto

    If human beings wouldn,t share the Earth with other Earthlings then they wouldn,t survive either.

    1. jaberwokky

      I disagree. I think if we wiped out all the other sh*tty specimens that are holding us up then we'd be one step closer to the God. It's our duty to eat our way to salvation.

      Start eating!!

    2. bringmeredwine

      LOL you cwazie!
      What a beautiful doc. Those leopards are magnificent creatures. I could watch them all day.
      I'm glad to see at least there are biologists studying them, and trying to help the Indians.
      I swear my pussy cat would kill me in my sleep if he thought he could get away with it!

    3. jaberwokky

      I have to say I think cats are fascinating animals, so much smarter than dogs too. And I often wonder when waking to find my cat licking my hand what exactly is going through his head. Perhaps it's best I don't know.

      I can understand why Jim Corbett's skills would be needed back in the wild old days but a part of me still wants to see him dropped in the middle of the jungle with two broken legs and only one bullet in that gun he seemed to love.

      Edit: Yes, I was having another crazy moment ;)

    4. bringmeredwine

      My first reply to you was held back for approval, so I sent you the shorter version.
      Yeah well, I have a very long list of people I'd like to drop off in the jungle!
      I sure do enjoy docs about cats, any cats; but hate seeing them being slaughtered.
      I really feel bad for those people though, having their kids dragged off like that.
      I'm sure its been an ongoing issue in the rural areas for many years.
      Here, we tangle with bears but they were here first.
      And people find the deer and coyotes and raccoons, nuisances (or they can be worse); but hey, they too were here first.

    5. bringmeredwine

      Those are some beautiful cats.
      I'm sure my own is busily plotting my demise as I type.

  9. User_001

    Thank you for the doc. Lots of great images here. Seems like most realize that they have to live together with the cats. People are suffering quite an impact though.

  10. elizabeth wesley

    Beautiful doc, a troubling problem. Solutions seem scarce.