A 21-year-old woman was killed in a suspected big cat attack in Almora district, Uttarakhand, prompting the Forest Department to intensify surveillance and precautionary measures in the affected area. The incident occurred in the Dabhra Saural Tok area of the Mohan Range, where the victim was reportedly attacked near her village.

Forest officials rushed to the spot and began examining pugmarks and other field evidence to determine whether the attack was carried out by a tiger or a leopard. Local reports suggest the animal dragged the woman into the nearby forest, though authorities are awaiting confirmation based on the ongoing investigation.

In response, the Forest Department has activated its Quick Response Team (QRT), stepped up patrolling, and installed camera traps to monitor the movement of the suspected big cat. Two veterinary doctors have also been deployed, while officials are gathering regular updates from villagers to track wildlife activity in the area.

Authorities have advised residents to avoid entering forests or dense undergrowth alone, particularly during the early morning and evening hours. Women and children have been urged to move in groups, livestock should be kept in secure enclosures, and public awareness campaigns are being conducted in nearby villages. The department has also initiated the process of providing ₹10 lakh ex gratia compensation to the victim’s family and is strengthening preventive measures, including the installation of solar fencing in vulnerable areas.

The incident once again underscores the growing challenge of human-big cat conflict in the Himalayan region and the need for continued habitat protection, scientific monitoring, and community participation to reduce such tragic encounters.