Leopard on prowl in Bengaluru’s IT corridor; teams formed to catch the big cat

The forest department has issued a warning to the public not to venture out at night and formed three teams consisting of 10 members each. According to Subhash K Malkhede, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden of Karnataka, cages have been placed in the area and doctors from the Bannerghatta zoological gardens have been engaged as a precautionary measures. The forest officials have been given tranquilliser guns.

“As soon as we spot the leopard, we will take it away and tranquillise it if required,” he added.

A forest official, however, said a video that is doing the rounds stating that the leopard was spotted near Singasandra in Electronic City in fact showed a place close to the Bannerghatta national park.

“Also, we are trying to locate the leopard and have asked the public and security staff of the apartments to pass the message. We are watching the movements of stray dogs, which might be hunted by the leopard,” said the official.

Electronic City houses a lot of information technology and biotechnology firms and the residents are in a state of fear.

“The residents have been advised not to venture out alone in the evening and night. If required they can take public transport or use cars. Two cages have been set up on the basis of analysis of leopard’s movements and two drones are being used to check if it is hiding in the vegetative areas. Thermal imaging cameras are being used for surveillance,” said N Ravindra Kumar, deputy conservator of forest, Bengaluru Urban.

Officials from the forest department suspect that the leopard is around two years old and might have strayed within the city limits from the Bannerghatta national park.

Police personnel have been deployed around apartment complexes in the area to ensure residents remain safe.

Last year in the month of November and December several instances of leopard sightings in Bengaluru were reported. On December 1, a carcass of a spotted deer suspected to be killed by a leopard was found at Kodipalya near Kengeri in Bengaluru South. On November 19, a leopard killed a calf near the Turahalli State Forest area.