Deforestation forces wild animals to enter human habitations

ADILABAD: The increased movement of wildlife, including leopards and wild bears, is creating panic among villagers of Nirmal, Mancherial and Adilabad districts. Leopards are even entering colonies and villages in search of prey.

The degradation of forests and the increased population of leopards are said to be reasons for these incidents of human-animal conflict.

There was panic when a leopard entered an urban park near Chincholi on the outskirts of Nirmal town a few days ago. Another incident took place two days ago near Pedda Dharmaram village in Kasipet mandal of Mancherial district, where a leopard mauled a goat and shepherds ran for their lives.

Mutyampalli deputy range officer Praveen said camera traps put up by forest staff captured the image of a leopard killing another goat. Forest staff have asked cattle grazers and villagers to be on alert when grazing their animals and moving in forests.

Officials say leopards are entering into human habitations from fringes of forests in search of prey following degradation of forests and urbanisation. New colonies are coming up on the city outskirts after removing the vegetation. One can see this happening on outskirts of Nirmal town.  

A wild bear entered agricultural fields in Tamsi mandal headquarters in Adilabad district a few days ago. Fearing an attack, villagers are approaching their fields only in groups.

Whether leopards or tigers, it is said they are targeting outskirts of villages in search of grazing cattle and goats during daytime and cattle tied to poles in cattle sheds at night.