Leopard Sighting Triggers High Alert in ASR Dist

Visakhapatnam: A leopard sighting in GK Veedhi mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district has put forest officials on high alert. Tribals spotted the animal near rain gauges in the Sapparla area three days ago and immediately alerted forest authorities, who later collected pug marks from the site.

Officials cautioned residents of nearby villages, including Nimmalagundi, Panasalabandha, Nuthalabandha and Lankapaka. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chintapalli, Y.S. Narasimha Rao said awareness programmes were conducted in several villages, advising people on precautions to be taken in case of a leopard sighting.

“The leopard has not entered villages and appears to be using a forest corridor for movement. It may have come from the Papikondalu National Park area,” the DFO said. He warned against setting forest fires, noting that it disturbs wildlife and increases the risk of animals straying into human habitations.

Forest officials have also put up posters advising people to avoid travelling alone, especially on two-wheelers, and to move in groups, including tourists. The DFO said the leopard census in ASR forests is under consolidation and numbers will be known soon. He added that tiger presence cannot be ruled out, citing a sighting by tourists near Rampachodavaram on January 12.