ICRISAT Back in News With Two Leopards Reported on Campus

Icrisat said that some of its staff had captured some drone and mobile phone imagery of what appeared to be two big cats. "We sought assistance from the forest department to identify the animals. We have also alerted all our staff, initiated all safety protocols. We are awaiting identification of the animals by forest department officials," said Tahira Natalie Carter, Icrisat's head of communications.

Telangana chief wildlife warden Elusing Meru told Deccan Chronicle that from the visuals shared so far by Icrisat staff, it was not very clear if the animals were leopards.

"We have sent trap cages, and camera traps to Icrisat. Once it is confirmed that the animals are leopards, we may have to deploy veterinary teams with tranquiliser guns to sedate and capture them," Meru said.

Meanwhile, Icrisat has warned its employees to be on the alert. It said all its staff has been advised on safety protocols.

This is the third time since 2014 that Icrisat has reported leopards on its campus, and the first time that two big cats were sighted. Both times, in 2014, and then in 2019, leopards, both males, were caught after forest department officials struggled for a few months to trap them.

However, if the two animals this time turn out to be leopards, then it would be a first for Icrisat, as well as elsewhere in any urban area in Telangana, that two leopards were reported to be moving together.

Chief wildlife warden Meru said there was also a report of a possible leopard three days ago from Icrisat but that one turned out to be a jungle cat. It may be recalled that in a similar episode reported from near the Miyapur Metro Rail station in October 2024, what was thought to be a leopard turned out to be a jungle cat.