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Leopard’s favourite

Forest guards in western India are using cell phones with ringtones of cows mooing, goats bleating and roosters crowing to attract leopards that have wandered into human settlements. The wild cats in Gujarat often roam into villages near forests in search of food. But, rather than use methods such as live bait like goats tied to trees to lure the leopards, which then fall into large pits dug by guards, officials say they have found a safer method to trap the cats. D. Vasan i, a senior forest official in Gujarat says, “This trick works.” Five leopards have so far been lured from villages since the new ringtone method was introduced a month ago. The leopards have all been released back into dense forest areas.

SUBAJAYANTHI WILSON

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