Residents of Nesurgaon, a quiet village in Sikkim’s Soreng district, woke up to an unwelcome neighbor on June 15, 2025: an adult male leopard prowling near their homes. The big cat had killed seven cattle and multiple pets over two nights, leaving paw prints and panic in its wake. By dawn, the Soreng Wildlife Range team was on high alert, deploying camera traps that confirmed the leopard, a healthy Panthera pardus, was stalking the village’s outskirts.
Panic in Nesurgaon: A Leopard Moves In
“We knew we had to act fast. Leopards rarely attack humans unless cornered, but the livestock losses were devastating for families,” said Range Officer Krishna P Dahal, who led the operation under Divisional Forest Officer Nisha Subba’s directives.
The Trap: Bait, Cages, and Midnight Tension
The forest team’s strategy was precise: a baited cage (using goats as live bait) placed in a strategic perimeter zone. For 48 hours, the team monitored the trap with infrared cameras, aware that the leopard’s nocturnal habits made daylight captures unlikely.
On June 17 at midnight, the leopard took the bait. “It dragged the goat toward the cage’s trigger mechanism. The moment it stepped inside, the door slammed shut,” Dahal recounted. The team sedated the leopard for a health check; there were no injuries, just a disgruntled patient.
Bigger Than Soreng: Sikkim’s Human-Wildlife Crisis
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Soreng has recorded six leopard captures since 2023, a symptom of Sikkim’s growing human-wildlife conflicts. With 30.77% of the state under forest cover and agriculture eating into habitats, leopards are pushed closer to villages.
“Habitat loss and prey depletion are the root causes,” explained Udai Gurung, Sikkim’s Conservator of Forests. “Leopards follow their food when wild prey like deer vanish, livestock becomes the alternative”.
Translocation Debate: A Temporary Fix?
The Nesurgaon leopard was released in an unnamed “safe habitat,” but experts warn translocation is a Band-Aid solution. A 2024 study in Nepal found that 40% of translocated leopards returned to human settlements or died in territorial fights.
“Translocation ignores the core issue: shrinking wild spaces. Without habitat corridors, conflicts will repeat,” said Dr. Chetan Vanjari, a wildlife veterinarian involved in similar rescues in Pune, India 10.
Innovations in Coexistence: Sikkim’s New Playbook
Sikkim is testing alternatives. At a June 2025 workshop, officials showcased GPS collars for tracking problem animals and acoustic devices to deter leopards. Community “eco-task forces” are being trained to report sightings via a dedicated hotline.
Tourism is another angle. “Villages near leopard habitats could earn revenue from wildlife tourism, offsetting livestock losses,” suggested Gurung. However, funding remains a hurdle, as only 12% of Sikkim’s wildlife budget is allocated to conflict mitigation.
Conclusion: A Test Case for the Himalayas
The Nesurgaon operation ended well, but it serves as a snapshot of a regional crisis. As climate change and development squeeze habitats, Sikkim’s balancing act between conservation and community safety will define the Himalayas’ future.
“This leopard’s story isn’t unique,” said Dahal. “The question is: Can we create space for both humans and wildlife before it’s too late?”.
