Leopard spotted near Batabari Tea Garden road in Jalpaiguri

A leopard was spotted late at night beside the road near section 9 of Batabari Tea Garden, in West Batabari, Matiali block, Jalpaiguri district. A group of young men travelling by motorcycle saw the animal in roadside bushes and recorded it on a phone.

The leopard later moved further into the tea garden. The video circulated on social media, prompting concern among residents who use the road. Residents sought forest department assistance to improve safety along the route.

Notable Points

• Conflict mitigation: Wildlife-conflict mitigation generally favours passive prevention and community involvement. Relocation can reduce an animal’s survival, lead to extensive dispersal and fail to prevent conflict behaviour from recurring.