Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 20: The roads which remained deserted during the Covid19 lockdown period are now witnessing heavy vehicular traffic. But the leopards which used to move about in vacant roads continue to move in the same roads and areas inhabited by people. This has caused concern among the people.

In particular, leopards are sighted more and more in the forest regions bordering the city. The forest department estimates that eight leopards might be roaming about in places like Yedapadavu, Kuppepadavu, Mijar, Ganjimath and Mangaluru airport.

Representational image

During the lockdown, these roads remained vacant and leopards easily played on animals like dogs which they found in populated areas. The leopards which moved about without any fear in these areas perhaps may have continued with their habit even now, feels range forest officer here, Prashanth Pai.

Before the advent of Covid19, the city was witnessing the presence of only two leopards but their number seems to have increased to eight now. Daily reports about the deaths of dogs in Kuppapadavu and Mijar areas for the last 15 days suggest that leopards are on the prowl. The practice of the people of pouring waste by the roadsides is also increasing the number of street dogs and pigs. The leopards keep coming there searching for dogs and pigs, Pai feels.

Pai said that based on CCTV footages, cages have been placed in areas where their movement has been observed. A month back, a leopard had been caught near Todar and released into the forest, he added. Based on complaint, a cage was kept in Kumpala but the leopard was not sighted there. In the airport, five cages have been kept and five more have been decided to be set up there.