Baripada, March 31: Villagers are living in fear in the buffer region of the Similipal Tiger Reserve as they claim to see a leopard straying into the area.

The carcass of a buffalo was found in the forest near Jamunanda village under Satkosia range. Moreover, Kameswar Pradhan, a villager, said his buffaloes, including a calf, returned home with severe injury marks on Sunday.

Some villagers said they had seen a leopard attacking a buffalo in the forest, about 3km from their village, near Kantabahali.

They also claimed to have seen the leopard fleeing into the forest after a group of buffaloes grazing at a distance had retaliated.

A forest department official said there had been reports from the villagers about a leopard straying into the area. But, the forest personnel were yet to spot it.

Karanjia division forest officer Asish Kumar Behera said: "Though a buffalo carcass was found and reports of injuries were received from the area, we haven't yet spotted anything. It could have been a leopard, a tiger or even a hyena. However, we are maintaining a strict vigil in the area."

Honorary wildlife warden Bhanoomitra Acharya said: "The animal attacking the buffaloes could be a leopard. Some villagers claim to have seen it. The forest surveillance should be intensified to stop the big cat as well as the poachers."

Last week, two hides of wild animals - one of a tiger and another of a leopard - were seized from the possession of poachers, and six persons were arrested for committing the crime. Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) S.S. Srivastav made a spot visit to the scene of crime and the village from where the hides had been seized.

Achuyta Mohanty, assistant conservator of forests, Thakurmunda, said: "The principal chief conservator of forests has asked the forest personnel to maintain a strict vigil in the region."