Odisha: Leopard Kills Dog Near Odisha Village, Panic Grips Bargarh Area
CCTV captures leopard prowling through Launsara; Forest Department launches tracking operation: Reports
BHUBANESWAR: A leopard prowling close to human habitation and hunting down a dog has triggered panic among residents of Launsara area under Ambabhona block in Odisha’s Bargarh district.
The movement of the wild animal was captured on CCTV late Tuesday night. The footage reportedly shows the leopard moving through the area before attacking, killing and eating a dog, raising fears among villagers about the animal venturing close to residential areas.
Following the leopard’s appearance, residents have been particularly apprehensive about stepping out of their homes after dark, fearing a possible encounter with the wild animal.
Bargarh Divisional Forest Officer Saroj Kumar Panda said more than 40 leopards are reportedly active in the nearby forest areas. While the movement of leopards in their natural habitat is not unusual, their increasing proximity to human settlements has become a cause for concern.
Acting on the CCTV footage, the forest department has launched an operation to track the leopard and establish its movement pattern. Officials are monitoring the area and trying to identify the routes being used by the animal.
Forest personnel have also intensified patrolling in the affected areas and are sensitising villagers about the need to exercise caution. Residents have been advised to avoid venturing out alone after dark and remain particularly alert in areas close to vegetation and forest patches.
The latest CCTV footage has heightened anxiety among villagers, even as forest officials continue to track the animal and monitor its movement to prevent any possible human-leopard conflict.
