Leopard makes a return to Vikarabad forest block

 Hyderabad: The forests of Vikarabad district, particularly the Damagundam reserve forest block, has a new resident. After a 10-year gap, a leopard has been found in the forest in the otherwise disturbed forest area, close to the popular Ananthagiri Hills.

The presence of the leopard was confirmed through camera trap images captured on Wednesday after forest department officials set up the equipment following the killing of a calf by a wild animal last Monday.

The calf was killed about one kilometre from the Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in the Damagundam forest and around two kilometres from Pudur village. “We have asked the people from Pudur and nearby villages not to enter the forest before 7 am, and after 5 pm,” Vikarabad district forest officer Gnyaneshwar Gummala said.

He said the villagers were asked not to venture into the forest and its adjoining areas alone, and those who take their cattle for grazing must ensure that all their animals are herded back safely before evening.

Since the area is popular with weekend visitors, the forest department officials have placed the resort managements on alert.

The area used to have leopards in the past but they disappeared about a  decade ago. “We are continuing to monitor its movements through camera traps and have asked people to inform us of the animal’s movements if they spot it,” Gnyaneshwar said.