Forest, TTD Officials Step Up Vigil After Sighting of Leopard Along Ghat Road

Tirupati: The recent sighting of leopards along the Ghat Road and the Alipiri footpath leading up to Tirumala has sparked concern among devotees as well as locals, prompting authorities from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the state forest department to intensify preventive measures.

The Alipiri footpath, a primary trekking route passing through the Seshachalam Hills and leading up to the Tirumala temple, is used daily by thousands of pilgrims. Following the tragic death of a six-year-old girl in a leopard attack near the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple on August 12, 2023, created fear psychosis among the devotees.

A leopard was spotted on the First Ghat Road connecting Tirupati to Tirumala on Monday night, triggering panic among people. Hence to enhance the surveillance measures, the TTD and forest authorities have started monitoring the movement of wild animals for the safety of the pilgrims. As part of the safety measures, 45 live cameras and thermal imaging devices have been installed along the 2.5 km stretch between Alipiri Padala Mandapam and the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, especially around the Seventh Mile area. These cameras are linked to base stations at the Tirupati forest range office and the forest museum.

“The four special teams comprising forest officials and TTD vigilance personnel have been deputed along the footpath as response units. They remain on high alert, especially during night hours,” a forest official said. The monitoring system alerts teams in real time upon detecting movement of wild animals such as leopards or bears.

However, officials clarified that there was no immediate cause for worry, stating that the latest leopard sighting occurred within the forest zone and not along the pedestrian path. Nevertheless, a high-level review meeting was convened, wherein TTD executive officer J. Syamala Rao joined virtually, while additional EO Ch. Venkataiah chaired the session. Dr. Ramesh Krishnamurthy of the Wildlife Institute of India, Chief Conservator of Forests C. Selvam, DFO Vivekanand, TTD DCF D. Srinivasulu and other senior officials were present at the meeting.

Intensified footpath patrolling, deployment of additional personnel and improved waste management to avoid attracting wild animals, joint patrolling involving officials from the forest, revenue, panchayat raj, health, and vigilance departments — were some of the decisions taken during the meeting. Besides, the TTD in association with the Wildlife Institute of India, is also working on long-term strategies.

Protective gear such as smart sticks, net guns, flashlights and pepper sprays are being used in high-risk zones. Efforts are also underway to restrict the sale of foods along the footpaths to prevent wild animals coming closer to the human activities. The officials acknowledged that the rise in human-animal encounters is largely due to encroachment on forest land and improper disposal of waste food.