Voila! Leopard Elusive For A Month Captured Near Svu
"Surveillance will remain in place during night hours across the campuses and along the Alipiri–Zoo Park corridor to monitor for any further activity”: Forest range officer B. Sudharshan Reddy
TIRUPATI: The students and residents of Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) area and adjacent universities including S.V. Vedic University and S.V. Veterinary University heaved a sigh of relief after forest officials trapped the leopard that had been moving around university campuses in Tirupati for a month, on Sunday night near the campus.
The wild animal was captured at around 11.30 pm after repeated reports of the big cat’s presence near the campuses and along the Alipiri–Cherlopalli road. To avoid the risk of man-animal conflict, the forest department placed four cages at locations considered vulnerable, including the SVU area, the Vedic University and the stretch leading to the S.V. Zoological Park. The strategy was to reduce the possibility of the male leopard straying further into residential or student zones.
Forest range officer B. Sudharshan Reddy said as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the department, the animal will be released into the deep interior forests after approvals are obtained from the competent authorities.
Despite the capture, he stressed, “Surveillance will remain in place during night hours across the campuses and along the Alipiri–Zoo Park corridor to monitor for any further activity.”
Field staff and wildlife observers pointed out that leopards are often drawn to the edges of cities when prey is easily available. Stray dogs feeding on leftover food from hostels, roadside garbage and unattended waste become easy hunting options, which increases the chances of wild animals moving close to human habitations.
Tirupati municipal commissioner N. Mourya, who inspected the Alipiri–Cherlopalli road recently, instructed civic body staff to strengthen cleaning operations and improve waste disposal systems. The road is heavily used by pilgrims on their way to the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, and officials believe that better waste management, together with strict forest monitoring, is necessary to reduce the risk of future incidents.
