Gujarat: 60-year-old tribal woman fights off leopard

Mangalore Today News Network

Gujarat, Mar 19, 2016: A 60-year-old tribal woman in Tapi district survived a leopard attack Thursday after she fought off the animal with only a sickle. The woman, Anita Chaudhary, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vyara town.

The incident happened near Palavadi village in Dolvan taluka when she went to a field to cut overgrown grass using a sickle.

According to Anita, the leopard emerged from the grass and attacked her. “I decided to run from the spot, but the big cat chased me. I shouted loudly for help. The big cat again attacked on me on my back, as a result of which, I fell on the ground. The leopard again pierced its claws on my hands, legs and back and tried to get to my neck, but I defended myself. I hit a few blow on the head of the big cat and injured it. It fled as soon as villagers reached,” she told The Indian Express.

The villagers who came to her rescue immediately took her to Vyara Civil hospital. Vyara Range Forest Officer R P Bhaliya said, “We have seen pug marks of the big cat and have installed a cage in the village to catch it . Our teams will take statement of the woman and we will also give her compensation. The compensation amount varies between Rs 15,000 and Rs 1 lakh, depending upon the injury.”