Jhapa, June 1 -- Locals of ward 2 and 4 of Mechinagar Municipality in Jhapa district, often affected by wild elephants, are now facing growing terror from leopards that have started killing goats and pigs almost daily.

According to ward 2 chair Deepak Baral, the leopard hides during the day in tea estates and private forests and comes out after dusk to attack livestock.

"We were already dealing with regular elephant intrusions and crop destruction by monkeys. Now we have leopards pulling goats and pigs straight out of the shed every night," said Baral. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of children."

In the past 15 days alone, leopards killed over two dozen goats and pigs, said Baral. He added that workers in tea estates, pedest...