Kurnool: A leopard-sighting near the MP Form Village in Mahanandi Mandal caused panic among the local population as also the devotees traveling to Mahanandi for darshan.
The animal was spotted in the middle of the road when a bus carrying devotees passed by. A video of the scene went viral on social media.
Leopard-sightings have become frequent in the Mahanandi area, reportedly due to food waste being dumped in the nearby forest by temple authorities and local eateries in the town. This attracts dogs, pigs and chickens which, in turn, draw predators like leopards.
The forest department had advised the temple officials to stop this practice. But leopard movement in the vicinity continues due to the temple’s location in the dense Nallamala forest.
In June, this year, a woman from Sirivella mandal died in a leopard attack. The leopard attacked Shaik Mehroon Bi, the former vice-sarpanch of Pachharla village in the Nallamala forest area under Sirivella mandal, when she went into the forest to collect firewood. When she did not return by evening, her family members searched for her in the forest and found her dead.
In the viral video on Sunday, the leopard was seen crossing the road and entering a field. Devotees alerted the forest officials. In response to increasing wildlife encounters near forest areas, the forest department has already intensified safety measures.
Trap cameras and drones are being used to monitor animal activity. Special teams have been deployed. Locals are advised to venture into fields only between 10am and 4pm and avoid visiting deep forest areas for activities like collecting firewood. Whistles and masks are being distributed, and residents are encouraged to move in groups rather than alone.
Further, a forest official said solar-powered CCTV cameras have been installed in the forest to track wild animal movements and ensure public safety.
