Foresters track pugmarks of leopard found at Kadiyam nursery in East Godavari

Vijayawada: Foresters are tracking the pug marks of a male leopard aged three to four years at a plant nursery at Kadiyam in East Godavari. The leopard is heading towards the islands in Godavari river, towards the Konaseema area.

Some villagers noticed the pug marks of a leopard at a plant nursery located on the Kadiam-Veeravarm road on Tuesday night. They alerted the forest officials who, in turn, plunged into action and noticed that the pug marks found at the nursery matched those found at Diwan Cheruvu.

The leopard found its way from Diwan Cheruvu to a nursery near Kadiyam, travelling a distance of about 30km.

Hectic activity was noticed at Kadiyam nurseries from the early hours on Wednesday. The foresters started tracking the pug marks while some were busy setting up camera traps and CCTV cameras.

The authorities are also arranging live baits of goats in the vicinity to attract the carnivore towards them so that they can arrange trap cages with live baits to trap the leopard.

Several areas in Rajamahendravaram experienced heavy downpour on Tuesday night and it continued up to Wednesday morning.

Foresters faced a tough task to keep track of the pug marks of the elusive leopard in the rain-drenched loose soil. Rains played spoilsport.

Foresters held talks with the farmers from Kadiyam nurseries and sought their help to keep track of the carnivore.

The officials carried out tom-tom in the area, alerting the people that a leopard is on the prowl.

Moreover, several teams of forest officials have been deployed to keep track of the leopard and instill confidence among the worried villagers.

East Godavari district forest officer Bharani said, “We have noticed the pug marks of the leopard at a plant nursery near Kadiyam. Its movement is being tracked. Likely, it is heading towards the Godavari islands towards the Konaseema region as it can find deer and also a thick growth of bushes for cover.”