Doomdooma: Residents of Tingrai No. 1 Assamese village near Digboi in Assam’s Tinsukia district have been living alongside a male and a female leopard for about a month, with no reported direct confrontation between the animals and people.
The leopards have reportedly killed three goats belonging to two local families. Despite the losses, the villagers have not expressed resentment over the animals’ presence.
“The important thing is to understand the real causes of human-wildlife conflict and the behaviour of wild animals. Our village areas are increasingly becoming centres of human-wildlife interaction, making awareness and caution essential for the safety of both,” wildlife conservationist Devajit Moran told Northeast Now.
Moran said the two leopards had been spotted in the village over the past month. He said the response of the affected families showed that they had not reacted with resentment despite losing their goats.
“Humans have taken so much from nature that it is extremely important to dedicate something in return for its protection,” Moran said, adding that public awareness and responsible coexistence were important for protecting people and wildlife.
Moran said habitat destruction and growing human activity in forest areas were among the factors behind encounters between people and wild animals. Forests and wooded areas that once provided shelter and hunting grounds for wildlife have been cleared for settlements, agriculture and other activities. This has reduced and fragmented natural habitats, bringing animals closer to human settlements.
He said coexistence also requires vigilance, practical safeguards and timely intervention by wildlife authorities to reduce risks to both people and animals.