Mahbubnagar:
In an indication that all is not right in the animal world, there have
been increasing instances of leopards straying into villages in search
of food and water. In the last six months alone, as many as 10 big cats
have entered human habitations and killed domesticated animals in
different parts of Telangana.
Wildlife experts fear that there has been a gradual loss of habitat for the big cats, particularly leopards, due to increased human activity even in the wildlife sanctuaries in Telangana. Added to this is the prolonged drought that is drying up their waterholes and leading to a fall in the number of prey.
On Wednesday, a leopard killed a calf at Chintalapally village in Amangal mandal of the district. According to farmer K Balaiah, the leopard pounced on a herd of cattle and took away a calf. "I saw the big cat entering the agricultural fields late in the night. Within a few minutes, it had attacked a calf and killed it," he said while pointing out the pugmarks of the leopard.
With mercury levels soaring since May 15, whatever little water was left in the waterholes has also dried up. The herbivores have also migrated in search of greener pastures, forcing the carnivores to stray into villages for food. No wonder then that farmers and people living in the villages abutting the forests have been in a state of constant fear for the last one month.
Only 10 days ago, a leopard had ventured into Gaddeguddem village in Deverkadra mandal. The big cat had drunk water from the village pond, but not before killing a buffalo calf. Villagers said it was the third such visit of a leopard in two months.
In Kandukur mandal of Rangareddy district, the first sighting of a leopard was on April 20. Since then, it has been on the prowl in the village, forcing people to spend sleepless nights. Similarly, big cats have been sighted in Pargi mandal of Rangareddy district. Forest officials have identified the big cat as a leopard based on its pugmarks. It had killed a calf in the village the last time it came.
In the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh too, instances of leopards venturing into villages have increased since January. A leopard injured a villager, M Sivaiah, while he was returning home after attending nature's call at Molakalpundla village in Nellore district. In Kadapa district too, a leopard was seen perched on a tree at Netlavandlapalle village in Veeraballi mandal. The animal was, however, caught by the forest officials. In Anantapur district, a leopard ventured into Chinnapalle village in Sellur mandal and killed several animals. Forest officials trapped a two-year-old big cat and sent it back into the forest.
Ananthapur DFO Raghavaiah admitted that leopards have been leaving the forests due to scarcity of food and water. Forest cover has been dwindling in both the states, causing untold loss of habitat.
Meanwhile, conservation activist K Sudhakar of Kothur town in the district said the government should stop allotting land to people in the vicinity of forests. Cultivation should be banned around the forests.
Wildlife experts fear that there has been a gradual loss of habitat for the big cats, particularly leopards, due to increased human activity even in the wildlife sanctuaries in Telangana. Added to this is the prolonged drought that is drying up their waterholes and leading to a fall in the number of prey.
On Wednesday, a leopard killed a calf at Chintalapally village in Amangal mandal of the district. According to farmer K Balaiah, the leopard pounced on a herd of cattle and took away a calf. "I saw the big cat entering the agricultural fields late in the night. Within a few minutes, it had attacked a calf and killed it," he said while pointing out the pugmarks of the leopard.
With mercury levels soaring since May 15, whatever little water was left in the waterholes has also dried up. The herbivores have also migrated in search of greener pastures, forcing the carnivores to stray into villages for food. No wonder then that farmers and people living in the villages abutting the forests have been in a state of constant fear for the last one month.
Only 10 days ago, a leopard had ventured into Gaddeguddem village in Deverkadra mandal. The big cat had drunk water from the village pond, but not before killing a buffalo calf. Villagers said it was the third such visit of a leopard in two months.
In Kandukur mandal of Rangareddy district, the first sighting of a leopard was on April 20. Since then, it has been on the prowl in the village, forcing people to spend sleepless nights. Similarly, big cats have been sighted in Pargi mandal of Rangareddy district. Forest officials have identified the big cat as a leopard based on its pugmarks. It had killed a calf in the village the last time it came.
In the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh too, instances of leopards venturing into villages have increased since January. A leopard injured a villager, M Sivaiah, while he was returning home after attending nature's call at Molakalpundla village in Nellore district. In Kadapa district too, a leopard was seen perched on a tree at Netlavandlapalle village in Veeraballi mandal. The animal was, however, caught by the forest officials. In Anantapur district, a leopard ventured into Chinnapalle village in Sellur mandal and killed several animals. Forest officials trapped a two-year-old big cat and sent it back into the forest.
Ananthapur DFO Raghavaiah admitted that leopards have been leaving the forests due to scarcity of food and water. Forest cover has been dwindling in both the states, causing untold loss of habitat.
Meanwhile, conservation activist K Sudhakar of Kothur town in the district said the government should stop allotting land to people in the vicinity of forests. Cultivation should be banned around the forests.
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