79-yr-old woman survives leopard attack in CG’s Gariaband

Raipur: A 79-year-old woman named Tulsi Bai was attacked by a leopard in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 5:30 am in Chhurra block when Tulsi Bai and other women had ventured into the fields. After the attack, upon hearing their screams for help, the leopard fled into the nearby forests, said Gariaband divisional forest officer Laxman Singh.The woman is said to be out of danger.
"The woman was taken to the district hospital for treatment. There were scratches on the eyelids of the woman and we did not want to take a risk. We have sent the woman with our forest ranger and team to Raipur for better treatment. The woman was out of danger," the DFO told TOI.
The DFO explained that Chhura block in the Gariaband Forest Division has dense forests, and the remote village of Saraipani is also encircled by these forests. Due to the darkness of early morning, it was difficult for the women to spot the approaching leopard, the DFO said.
The DFO further stated that the Gariaband forest division is home to a significant number of leopards, although the exact count is difficult to determine. These leopards give birth to two to three cubs every three to four months. They are frequently sighted in various locations within the district, such as the stadium and hospital campus.
While they venture into human habitats in search of food, they do not typically attack humans, instead preying on monkeys and other animals. However, the DFO emphasised the importance of protecting children and the elderly from potential leopard encounters.