{
  "id": 15332855,
  "title": "‘Marauding army’: Officials raise alarm over Bijnor’s rising leopard numbers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/marauding-army-officials-raise-alarm-over-bijnors-rising-leopard",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T02:00:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/bijnor-rising-leopard-numbers-alarm-10926269/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Officials in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, are expressing growing concern over a rapidly expanding leopard population in the district. Forest officials describe the situation as akin to a \"marauding army\" that could wreak havoc if left unchecked. According to a senior forest official, if the leopard numbers are not controlled, they could enter urban areas and pose a threat to people. A 2024 survey estimates there are currently 444 leopards in Bijnor, a district spanning 4,000 square kilometers, and warns that this number could triple in just five years if not managed. This surge in leopard activity has caused 11 deaths and injured 30 people in attacks this year alone. The problem is particularly acute in neighboring Moradabad, where 7 people have died and 21 have been injured by leopards this year. The leopards are drawn to the sugarcane fields that cover nearly half of Bijnor's agricultural land, providing them with ample habitat and prey. The state government has proposed a sterilization program as a potential solution, but officials warn that capturing and relocating leopards may be necessary to control the population.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Bijnor district faces rising leopard population, described as a 'marauding army'",
    "444 leopards estimated in 4,000 sq km district, could triple in five years",
    "11 deaths and 30 injuries from leopard attacks this year, primarily in sugarcane fields"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rapid expansion of leopard populations into agricultural and urban areas transforms local wildlife management from a routine task into an urgent public safety crisis for the district.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}