Man Trapped in Leopard Cage After Attempting to Take Bait Goat in Uttar Pradesh Wildlife Sanctuary

Authorities have issued warnings to local residents to exercise caution and stay away from wildlife traps.

In a peculiar incident in Uttar Pradesh, a man found himself imprisoned in a metal cage that had been set up by the forest department to capture a leopard. The individual had entered the enclosure with the intention of taking the goat used as bait, which triggered the trap mechanism and left him confined for several hours until villagers discovered him.

This unusual occurrence took place in Umri Dahalo village, located adjacent to the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich district. Footage of the incident has since become viral across social media platforms.

The forest department had installed the cage following a fatal attack on a woman by a wild animal on Wednesday, November 26. Officials had strategically placed a goat inside the trap to attract the leopard.

Investigators believe the man entered the cage intending to retrieve the goat, but the door automatically closed behind him. However, the man offered a different explanation, claiming he was merely investigating the situation when he became dizzy and accidentally triggered the trap.

In response to the ongoing leopard threat in the region, authorities have urged villagers to remain vigilant and avoid approaching any traps or cages established for capturing the dangerous animal.

A comparable incident occurred in 2023 in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, where another man was discovered inside a leopard trap. Forest Department officials told ANI that he had entered the cage to take a rooster. Video footage showed the man pleading with forest officers to release him.

A Forest Department officer named Radheshyam explained: "We established the cage to trap the leopard after receiving reports that the animal had been roaming the area. We searched for the leopard for some time before deciding to set up the cage. There was a rooster in the cage serving as bait. When the man entered and attempted to take the rooster, the cage mechanism activated and trapped him. He was released almost immediately."