Bageshwar: Two women from Bageshwar who confronted a leopard during farm work and drove it away have been honoured by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for their courage in the face of a wildlife attack.
Prema Joshi and Hema Joshi, residents of Patli village in Garur tehsil, were honoured on Thursday during a Wildlife Week programme held at the ICFRE auditorium at FRI in Dehradun. The recognition was given for their actions during an incident of human-wildlife conflict.
The incident took place on September 3 in Patli village in the Baijnath area. Prema Joshi was working in the fields when a leopard suddenly attacked her. Despite sustaining injuries, she did not panic and raised an alarm while confronting the animal with a sickle that was lying nearby.
Hearing Prema’s screams, Hema Joshi reached the spot and joined her in resisting the leopard. The two women continued shouting and confronting the animal, after which the leopard fled from the area.
The incident highlighted the risks faced by residents of rural areas where encounters between people and wild animals are reported. The women’s response also drew attention to the importance of remaining alert and responding quickly during such situations.
Their recognition by the Chief Minister has brought wider attention to the incident and their actions during the leopard attack.
Divisional Forest Officer Prakash Chandra Arya said the courage and composure shown by the two women could serve as an example for others. He said protecting human life remains the highest priority and that such incidents underline the importance of maintaining presence of mind during encounters with wildlife.
The Forest Department continues to deal with challenges related to human-wildlife conflict in areas where villages and agricultural fields are located close to forest habitats.
