Forest Authorities issued a high alert in Kengeri and surrounding localities of Bengaluru on Friday after locals claimed that they spotted four leopards in the area.
According to the Deputy Conservator of Forest S S Ravishankar, people complained that a leopard was spotted in Turahalli forest area.
A leopard, captured on CCTV, inside the ITC factory near Chikkajala in North Bengaluru. @aranya_kfd R still tracking the cat. @TOIBengaluru #Bengaluru #Leopard #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/icRr6ypsg5
— Niranjan Kaggere (@nkaggere) December 2, 2022
Leopard strayed from Turahalli forest
It is suspected that leopards are straying into residential areas from Turahalli Reserve Forest, located close to Bengaluru.
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BCCL/REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE
Turahalli is a well-known leopard habitat, but in recent years, encroachment and an increase in human settlements have resulted in it being cut off from BM Kaval Reserve and Bannerghatta National Park, thus trapping the big cats in there.
In the past two days, the people have spotted the leopards several times.
Residents warned against stepping out
Authorities have also found the carcass of a deer killed by a leopard in Kodipalya near Kanakapura on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
A spotted deer hunted by a leopard on Kodipalya main road near Turahalli forest. Leopards keep roaming the area as it abuts the @NPbannerghatta in South #Bengaluru. @TOIBengaluru #wildlife #Karnataka #leopard #forest @aranya_kfd pic.twitter.com/5A5Xg8OzGS
— Niranjan Kaggere (@nkaggere) December 2, 2022
However, wildlife experts maintain that leopards in the region are found naturally and hence, there is no need for panic.
BCCL/ Representational Image
The authorities and wildlife experts have advised the people against venturing out alone at night. They have also been asked to keep away from the reserve forests, play songs on their mobiles and talk loudly when they are moving at night.
Four leopards or one?
While there are reports of leopard sightings at Kengeri, Kumbalagodu, Devanahalli and nearby areas, forest authorities said that it could be the same animal
“The information we have is that there is one leopard, but people reported there are more than two. We are ascertaining the information and will give our report in a day or two,” Ravishankar told PTI.
He said there is a possibility of a leopard straying with her cubs in the Turahalli forest area.
BCCL
Last month too there was a leopard sighting in the area and a calf was killed in Sompura limits of Banashankari 6th Stage near the Turahalli forest area.
Student killed in leopard attack
Meanwhile, in a related development, a 23-year-old student was killed in a leopard attack in S Kabbehundi village of Mysuru on Thursday.
The victim, Meghana, was attacked by a leopard on Thursday night when she had gone to relieve herself behind her residence.
BCCL
Meghana who was injured in the leopard attack succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Leopard population in Karnataka
According to the latest available official data, there are 1,783 leopards in Karnataka, making it the second-largest population of big cats in the country, after Madhya Pradesh which has 3,421.
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