A high alert has been announced in the city of Bengaluru after four leopards were spotted in different parts of the city. The leopards were spotted in Devanahalli, Kumbalagodu, Kengeri, and the outskirts of Bengaluru.
The forest department has been in action since the big cats were spotted. According to the reports the leopards were seen in the urban forest of Turanhalli, which falls within the Bengaluru Metropolitan Municipal Corporation. The leopards have also been captured on CCTV cameras.
CCTV footage shows leopard on Bengaluru outskirts | Bengaluru News – Times of India
“The information we have is that there is one leopard, but people reported there are more than two. We are ascertaining the information and will give our report in a day or two,” Ravishankar told PTI.
Ravishankar also stated the possibility of the leopard staying with her cubs in the Turahalli area. The information. This possibility was proved correct when an officer in the same area confirmed an incident of calf killing.
Why so many leopards in Urban Bengaluru?
Bengaluru is surrounded by rocky locations and dry forests. As a result of the same, leopards have always been present in this part of the state, because the topography suits them very well.
Leopard in #Vibgyor school#Bangalore pic.twitter.com/Dzza7YArXr
— Akash Sahu (@_AkashSahu) February 7, 2016
For several decades, the city of Bengaluru has seen rapid expansion. The towns and villages surrounding the city eventually became a part of the city. Thus, the leopard habitats got converted into human colonies, highways, and industrial hubs.
Credits – Siasat Daily
Although most of it has been transformed into a city, a few rural areas and the rocky terrain continue to exist around the city, which provides a natural habitat for the leopards.
Reports have stated that there must be around 30-35 leopards in and around the city. Besides, there are over 40 leopards in the Bannerghatta National Park.
In an article written for The Hindu, Sanjay Gubbi, a conservation biologist from Karnataka stated that catching and translocating the leopards is just a temporary solution. “We need to build awareness of how to live with leopards. There are a few gated communities, and schools that have accepted and continue to live with leopards” wrote Gubbi.
The reaction
Mr.Indian modi government before days you people grand welcome jaguar leopard cheethas from Africa.. Now in Near Bangalore Karnataka we lost cheetha due to national highway project. Your government Acquire Forrest area. pic.twitter.com/tWAzeAu4OK
— sunilkumar (@sunildoll) October 31, 2022
In response to the growing number of leopards in the city, the forest department has set up cages to catch the animals near the private factory in Tarabanahalli, Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural District.
In the wake of these incidents, the authorities have advised people to not venture out at night. Besides, people have also been warned to play songs, and talk loudly while moving out during the night.
