Foresters keep close tab on movement of leopard at Gurajala

VIJAYAWADA: Foresters are keeping a close vigil on the movement of a leopard in the region, by fixing camera traps. They have advised the local residents to be careful and avoid moving alone during night time at Gurajala in Palnadu district.

The leopard was spotted at night on June 5 on CCTV camera near a private cell tower that was being monitored from New Delhi. The foresters quickly started a search operation in the area and found the pug marks of the leopard the next day. They set up camera traps in and around the area where the carnivore had been sighted. When the officials checked the data on camera traps on Wednesday, nothing was found.

The officials noticed that several private properties in the area were having massive growth of weed. They suspect that the leopard might have arrived at the spot for easy prey like pigs.

The forest department has advised the Gurajala municipal commissioner to rearers not to allow their pigs to move in the town and drive them away to the outskirts of the town and secure them there. There exists a ban on movement of pigs in the municipal areas.

Meanwhile, foresters carried out an awareness drive among the locals to encourage them clear all bushes and weeds around their houses and vacant lands, so as to avoid giving any hiding place for the carnivore. “Avoid moving around at night, do not allow children to play outside their homes, and keep the lights on at night to deter the leopard from reaching residential areas,” residents were told.

Palnadu district forest officer Ramachandra Rao said, “We have been keeping a close tab on movement of the leopard ever since it was found in a camera trap at Gurajala three days ago. We suspect the carnivore might have arrived here for prey, like pigs from near the forest area that is located  9km away.”