Rajahmundry: Villagers of Pangidigudem of Dwaraka Tirumala mandal in West Godavari are scared with reports indicating the likely sighting of a panther in the habitation. Following this, forest authorities have set up two pairs of camera traps at strategic locations to trace its movement and also are arranging a cage to trap the carnivore.
Recently a cow calf belonging to a farmer in one of the habitations was found dead. Upon close observation of carcass of the animal, the forest authorities concluded that the calf was attacked by some animal like jackal and not by a panther. They said that when a panther attacks, it would hold the prey by its neck and kill it and then pull the carcass to some distance to eat and hide it in a bushy area to come back and eat again so that scavenger animals would not eat it.
The villagers, anyhow, seem to be terrified and hesitant to move freely in the habitations fearing an attack by the panther. The forest authorities decided to set up camera traps at strategic locations from where the carnivore could enter the habitations from Nallajarla reserve forest area so that they can confirm its presence and make efforts to trap it.
The forest authorities have advised people in the habitations to continue their regular activities during the day as the carnivore will not attack them at that time. However, they cautioned people not to move outside in the night as the carnivore will be more active during that time to hunt for food. The villagers have also been asked to keep their habitations free from stray dogs as panther gets attracted to them to kill and eat.
Eluru forest range officer P.S. Prakasa Rao said, “No one from the habitations has spotted the panther moving around so far.Based on the killing of a cow calf, the villagers assume that a panther might have killed it. But, given the nature of killing, it is certainly not a panther but some other animal like jackal.” Eluru divisional forest officer (wildlife) V. Saibaba said, “We are initiating measures to set up camera traps and a cage to spot and trap it.”
