Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, 1st May 2026: Marking the occasion of International Leopard Day (03 May), the Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the Wildlife Trust of India, in collaboration with the Forest Department, conducted an engaging awareness programme at Semarighatai Gram Panchayat Bhawan under the Murtiha Range of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.

The event brought together a vibrant gathering of 49 participants, including the Gram Pradhan, Panchayat members, farmers, Bagh Mitras, school children, and local residents. The session focused on building a deeper understanding of big cats, with special emphasis on leopards—their identification, behaviour, and critical role in maintaining ecological balance.

In light of recent leopard movement and human-wildlife interaction incidents in the Murtiha Range, the team also highlighted essential Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) safety practices, encouraging communities to adopt informed and responsible behaviour.

A key highlight of the programme was the screening of WTI’s animated short film “Kinara”, which sensitively portrays human-wildlife interactions. Children participated enthusiastically in an interactive learning session led by the RRT, complemented by the distribution of awareness pamphlets.

To make learning more engaging, a dummy leopard model was used to demonstrate key concepts—sparking curiosity and excitement among young participants. Through this interactive approach, children learned to distinguish between big cats such as tigers and leopards, understand their identification in the landscape, and appreciate their role in the food chain and ecosystem. They were also sensitised on avoiding negative human-wildlife interactions through simple precautionary measures.

 The program also brought together young children who were keen to learn more about big cats| Photo (c) Team WTI

This initiative builds upon the ongoing efforts under the Terai Tiger Project in the Murtiha Range, where a series of Coexistence Meetings (Aalochana Sabhas) have been conducted in recent weeks across vulnerable villages. These engagements have focused on raising awareness about wildlife behaviour, promoting safe agricultural and daily practices, identifying high-risk time zones, and strengthening community preparedness to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict. Such continuous outreach plays a crucial role in fostering trust, awareness, and community participation in conservation efforts.

The programme concluded with an open Q&A session, fostering meaningful dialogue between villagers, Panchayat representatives, and the team—strengthening the shared vision of peaceful coexistence.