A display board citing leopard on prowl is erected at Sri Venkateswara University campus in Tirupati, after it made an appearance a couple of times in the region.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
A leopard has been sighted 10 to 15 times in the outskirts of the city abutting the Tirumala hills over the last three months, giving sleepless nights to the resident students of various educational institutions spread across the region.
The animal was last sighted last at Sri Venkateswara University, Sri Venkateswara Vedic University and Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, all adjacent campuses dotting the Alipiri-Cherlopalli road.
The leopard is learnt to have been foraying into the region in search of dogs. The unused food from the campus hostels dumped in the public is said to be attracting the stray dogs, which have multiplied in the recent months.
“Leopards move into human habitations only in search of food. The habitat has to be maintained clean so as to keep the area clear of stray dogs. There is no need to capture this leopard as it has not harmed any human so far. It has avoided the places where people gather. It is only the psychological fear that has driven humans to panic,” said P. Vivek, Divisional Forest Officer of Tirupati Wildlife Management Circle.
However, in view of the animal’s frequent sightings and efforts to relocate it into the forest, the department is considering installing cages across SVU campus to capture it.
Elephant on ghat road
Meanwhile, a stray elephant was sighted on the Tirumala first ghat road, near 7th mile point, a few days ago. It is the second time in the last six months that a tusker has attempted to cross the ghat road.
“Had it crossed over to this side, it would have been a danger for both the elephant as well as the pilgrims,” Mr. Vivek observed. The department is leaving no stone unturned to push it back into the valley forest, he added.
Published – February 03, 2025 04:20 pm IST