Leopard threat: Famous Brindavan gardens partially closed for visitors

BENGALURU: A leopard has strayed into Brindavan Gardens attached to the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir vicinity in broad day light in Belagola of Srirangapatna of Mandya district and the movement of the leopard in the reservoir site has prompted officials concerned of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) to bar the entry of visitors to North Gate of the Brindavan Gardens where musical fountain is located.

Brindavan Gardens is visited by hundreds of tourists on a regular basis and Musical Fountains being the major attraction. On leopard movement Pandavapura Range Forest Officer Puttaswamy told Deccan Chronicle on Sunday that a leopard was spotted a couple of days back and cages have been placed to trap the leopard which is less than year-old.

“There is no report of leopard attacking humans or the livestock,” said the RFO and pointed out that about a year back, a leopard was trapped in the reservoir vicinity by forest officials and shifted to a safer location. But, another leopard has moved into the vicinity and spotted in the reservoir area

Though, the RFO has allayed fears of leopard posing a threat to humans but CNNL officials have initiated precautionary measures to close the North Gate while South Gate of the famous Brindavan Gardens is kept open allowing visitors to catch a glimpse of Brindavan Gardens in illumination.

Executive Engineer of the CCNL said that “We have been getting a lot of queries from the visitors asking for opening of North Gate but visitors will be allowed to enter the Gardens through the North Gate once the leopard is trapped in the cage.”