Leopard Captured at Golconda After 22-Day Hunt
The captured animal was initially shifted to the Nehru Zoological Park around 10 am on Thursday. After zoo authorities confirmed it was in good health, it was transported and released in the Kambalapalli range.
Hyderabad: A leopard that had forest department officials on tenterhooks for 22 days and raised concern among people in Golconda walked into a cage placed in the Greyhounds Tech Park on Wednesday night, and was trapped.
On Thursday, forest officials found the leopard inside the cage. They examined the animal and said the big cat — a male, about four to five years old and weighing 50 kg —would be taken for release in the Kambalapalli range of the Nagarjunasagar division in the Amrabad tiger reserve after health checks.
Principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force) Dr C. Suvarna told reporters at a press conference that after it was first sighted on July 7 near Manchirevula. It had since been moving between the Forest Trek Park and the Artillery Centre in Golconda.
At one point, it crossed the busy Outer Ring Road safely. A 15-member forest department team mounted intensive monitoring efforts using 14 camera traps and regular patrolling. On Wednesday night, the leopard finally walked into one of the two trap cages and was caught.
The captured animal was initially shifted to the Nehru Zoological Park around 10 am on Thursday. After zoo authorities confirmed it was in good health, it was transported and released in the Kambalapalli range.
“We hope the leopard will settle down and establish its territory there, as the area already supports other wildlife and has abundant prey and water sources,” said A. Shankaran, officer on special duty (wildlife), at the press meet.
Dr Suvarna said the incident reflected the growing pressure on wildlife habitats and such encounters may become more frequent. “As long as there is cooperation from the public and timely information is shared with the department, operations like this can be carried out safely and successfully,” she noted.
Answering a question, Shankaran said over the past two years, seven leopards have been captured in and around Hyderabad. He added that Telangana had 397 leopards, as per the last official count by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2022.
“There may be several reasons — such as habitat pressure or food scarcity — that drive leopards into unfamiliar areas,” he explained.