Panic has once again surfaced through Kurseong due to a black leopard sighting. A video that went viral on social media on Monday captured the attention of locals and authorities alike. The footage shows a fully grown female black leopard cautiously navigating through a pine forest, her nose to the ground as she attempts to discern the movements of potential prey.
However, the precise location of this particular pine forest remains unclear. The hills boast an extensive stretch of pine forests spanning from Dow Hill to Tiger Hill. Forest department officials have confirmed that their CCTV cameras have indeed captured images of this elusive black leopard.
It's worth noting that the Kurseong forest area is home to multiple such black leopards. These magnificent creatures roam across a vast territory, from the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary in Tiger Hill to the Kurseong forest region. They are known to prey on chickens and goats from nearby settlements, as well as hunt wild boars within the forest.
Sightings of these black leopards occur several times a year. Pedestrians returning home on the Dow Hill Road have reported multiple instances of black leopards crossing their path. Similar sightings have also been reported in the Singalila National Park, which straddles the India-Nepal border.
Debashish Pandey, the Divisional Forest Officer of Kurseong, stated, "The black leopard seen in the viral video is indeed from the Kurseong forest area. However, it's impossible to pinpoint the exact location within our jurisdiction."
