Suneet Bhardwaj

In Pursuit of a Man-Eater Suneet Bhardwaj

This is the story of a mysterious leopard that terrorized Thunag, a small town in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh. It is about the extraordinary experience of sitting on a tree-top Machan, walking the forests in the middle of the night, and the adventures of chasing a man-eater. It is about the fear of living in the realm of a man-eater. This book gives an insight into the behaviour of a leopard derived from various sources of traditional knowledge. The description of the basic instincts, the strengths and the weaknesses of the big cat, and their linkage with the short tales of experience will keep you engrossed. Whether it is the changing perceptions of the human-leopard conflict, the modifications in the social behaviour that a man-eater brings along, or the challenges involved in dealing with a man-eater, the book describes it all. At the same time, it highlights the gaps in the system, grey areas which need research, and the need for people to remain connected with nature. This personal memoir is an exciting and useful read for people of all ages and professions, especially the environmentalists, foresters, bureaucrats, and wildlife enthusiasts.