Leopard Scare Grips Bengaluru! Citizens Wary After Multiple Sightings Of Big Cat In Residential Area

A leopard is on the loose in parts of the IT corridor in southeast Bengaluru, and its presence in the area has sparked a sense of scare among the locals.

After the big cat was spotted multiple times in the area over the past two days, inhabitants of Tony apartment complexes close to MS Dhoni Global School on Kudlu Main Road and those living in the adjacent regions of Singasandra and HSR Layout are tense over the sightings.

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Due to these repeated sightings inside apartment complexes, especially at night, the forest officials in Bengaluru Urban have been vigilant over the issue.

What forest department is doing about it

The forest department has now undertaken a combing operation to trace and rescue the leopard by deploying over 25 personnel in the area, along with a unit of veterinarians and sharpshooters to tranquillise the big cat.

For this endeavour, two drone cameras have been made operational while the forest department and police personnel have been patrolling the streets, cautioning citizens to go out with others, particularly in the morning and late at night.

Acknowledging the sighting of a leopard on the premises of Salarpuria Cadenza apartment in Kudlu Gate, N Ravindra Kumar, the deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Bengaluru Urban, told Times Of India: "We have advised people not to venture out alone and use cars or public transport if required at night. Residents have been told not to go near any vegetation during the evening or at the night."

Additionally, the officials have also warned citizens about walking their pets in the area.

How the leopard will be traced

The DCF told TOI that two cages have been put up at different locations after studying the leopard's movements.

"We have summoned a rescue team of veterinarians from Bannerghatta Biological Park and will be using thermal imaging cameras for night surveillance. We have been using two drone cameras, too, in areas with dense vegetation to locate the big cat," he said.

Representational Image

A range forest office said the leopard appears to be three years old and may have sneaked into the area either from Bannerghatta National Park or through the thick vegetation spread over 15-20 acres near HSR Layout. CK Baba, DCP, southeast, said more than 20 police personnel, along with two Hoysala (patrol) vehicles, have been attached to the forest department to assist in the combing drive.

"We have assured citizens not to panic as the forest department will soon trace and rescue the leopard. We have also ensured a safe passage for apartment dwellers to move around. Besides, police personnel will be deployed around apartment complexes at night as a precautionary measure," he explained.

What people are saying

A set of videos showing the big cat sighting was shared on the social media site X (formerly Twitter) by the handle 'Karnataka Weather', and it was captioned as, "Leopard spotted at Cadenza apartment 1st floor in Kudlu Gate, #Bengaluru & near MS Dhoni International School Citizens are in a panic state. Please take some action immediately @aranya_kfd @osd_cmkarnataka @DKShivakumar @CMofKarnataka @siddaramaiah @PriyankKharge @BlrCityPolice."

Leopard spotted at Cadenza apartment 1st floor in Kudlu Gate, #Bengaluru & near MS Dhoni International School

Citizens are in a panic state. Please take some action immediately @aranya_kfd @osd_cmkarnataka @DKShivakumar @CMofKarnataka @siddaramaiah @PriyankKharge @BlrCityPolice https://t.co/1dSYhEVB0R pic.twitter.com/npXsn1Ugkx

¡ª Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) October 30, 2023

Upon being shared, the video went viral, and a large no of people, particularly from Bengaluru raised concern over the issue. Most of them attributed the city's unplanned expansion as a reason for the roaming of such wild animals in the residential areas. Another group of people indicated that the locations were all in the middle of the city, where the big cat was spotted. The videos were posted yesterday and pulled 455K views from people.

Taking to the comment section, people shared their take. "Is it the same leopard? Because according to the CCTV time stamp, it is from 28th October," a user asked. "They built an international school in leopard's home. Where will it go?" commented a second person. "No need to go to Bannerghatta Zoo! The unscientific and unplanned expansion of the city is what has brought us here!! I still wonder how a leopard has come so far into a "residential" area!" added a third. "How did it cross the busy Hosur road?" asked a fourth person. "This is the middle of the city. Don't know why some people crying that forest occupied like that," pointed out a fifth netizen. "This is the problem if we acquire forest lands, better leave the forest and let them live der life," added a sixth person.

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