Relief After Scare - Miyapur Leopard could be a Jungle Cat

Hyderabad: Forest and police officials on Saturday breathed a sigh of relief with the opinion veering around to the animal seen next to the Miyapur Metro Rail Station on Friday evening could be a jungle cat and not a leopard as suspected earlier.

It may be recalled that a search was launched on Friday night after a short video clip showing what officials said an animal that looked like a leopard was spotted near the station.

While an immediate search did not find any pug marks, on Saturday a continuing search revealed a set of pug marks which were small, just about 3.5 cm in length which can only be that of a Jungle Cat, forest department officials said. Theys also said fresh scat of the animal was collected from the Metro Rail depot area and sent to ICMR-CCMB for correct identification through DNA testing.

“But the results could take up to two weeks. In the meanwhile, we are installing camera traps in the scrub area of the Metro Rail depot next to the station to see if the animal can be captured on camera. The cameras will be in place for three days,” a senior forest official said.

If the animal is conclusively identified as a jungle cat, then there will be no efforts to capture it as in the case of a leopard straying into human habitations. A jungle cat is no threat to people and is very versatile and can survive feeding on rats, bandicoots, birds. It can find food anywhere,” the official said.