Sixth leopard captured in Tirumala, animal lovers concerned

Tirupati: Operation Chirutha, a collaborative mission between the AP forest department and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, aimed at capturing the leopard responsible for killing of a six-year-old Lakshitha last month, has sparked concerns among animal lovers and conservationists.

The operation has so far resulted in capturing of six leopards, with the most recent captured on Wednesday. The latest has been trapped in a cage placed near the site of the attack on Lakshitha. The captured wild animal has been shifted to the S.V. Zoo Park in Tirupati.

Such capture has raised concerns among conservationists and animal lovers about the welfare of the captured leopards. Critics argue that the leopards are being unfairly penalised and their relocation may disrupt the ecosystem.

Forest authorities have defended their action. They underline that they are ensuring the safety and well-being of both humans and leopards. Tirupati Wildlife Management chief conservator of forest (CCF) P. Nageswara Rao told Deccan Chronicle:

"We are setting traps only after confirming that a leopard is frequently approaching the walkways. Cages are placed within 30–50 metres from the walkway, targeting leopards that are likely to pose a potential threat to human safety. The most recent capture is of the wild animal that has been caught 90 times on the trap cameras over the past week."

Addressing the issue of releasing the captured leopards back into the wild, the CCF said out of the six captured so far, three have been released into the wild. Two leopards do not have canines, which makes them scavengers. Capturing such animals is beneficial for them, as they cannot hunt their prey in the wild."

However, Nageswara Rao said they are temporarily halting placement of cages to capture leopards. “We will continue monitoring the movement of wild animals through camera traps. If any animal frequents the walkway or poses a threat to human life, we will take further action by consulting higher authorities and wildlife experts," he stated.

It may be noted that the first leopard captured on June 24, has already been released in a remote part of the Seshachalam forest. Two other leopards have returned to the wild after DNA tests cleared them of any involvement in the attack on the girl. Currently, two leopards, along with the one captured on Wednesday, are in the SV Zoo Park, awaiting the results of their DNA tests.