Tirupati: Two leopards were spotted near the last steps of the Alipiri walking path on Monday, causing chaos among devotees visiting the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
According to witnesses, the leopards suddenly appeared on the walking path and devotees screamed in fear. The big cats, startled by the noise and commotion, quickly retreated to the forests.
TTD’s vigilance and security personnel rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area to ensure devotees’ safety. Forest department staff also joined the efforts, combing the vicinity to identify and track the trail of the leopards.
Following this, TTD took precautions. It arranged escorts for groups of devotees along the footpath.
Forest officials clarified that such wildlife sightings do occur in the area due to the abundance of prey species along the ghat roads and footpaths. They stressed that there was no immediate danger as the animals retreated to the forests.
"We advise devotees to remain vigilant. These leopards reside in the forest areas and typically avoid human contact or confrontation," stated a forest ranger. Devotees have been cautioned against entering forested zones during their pilgrimage.
