Moradabad leopards sighting sparks panic in dozens of villages

Three leopards were spotted simultaneously on the roof of a tubewell structure near Samadgarh village in the Kanth area of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The sighting, captured on video by passing motorists, has caused widespread panic across more than 20 to 50 nearby villages.

Local residents report that heavy rains and flooded sugarcane fields are driving the predators closer to human settlements. The presence of the animals has disrupted agricultural activities, with villagers avoiding fields and staying indoors after dark.

The Moradabad Forest Department has been monitoring the situation. Officials noted that the department has already captured several leopards in the district recently, with 41 cages currently active in the area. This surge in leopard activity follows a period where human-wildlife conflict has resulted in multiple fatalities in the region.