Bolangir: Panic gripped the people of Badmal in Titlagarh block of this district after a leopard was seen roaming freely on a road.
Some youths photographed the leopard with their mobile phones and uploaded the pictures on social media. The pictures later went viral.
Seeing the pictures on the Net fear gripped the people in the area who raised concerns about their safety and that of the animal.
They demanded immediate steps to drive the animal into the wild. However, Divisional Forest Officer Samirkanta Satpathy said there is nothing to worry and that normalcy has been restored.
“The area where the leopard was sighted is in Badmal. It is a restricted area as there is an ordnance factory there and no vehicles or the public are allowed there. As the forest is nearby sightings of leopards are common there, but I have to admit that sightings have increased last month. I think it may be due to the fact that animals are feeling safe in the area as they have realised that there is no danger from vehicles and humans,” he said.
“Security guards at the factory have taken adequate measures and they know that wild animals should not be irritated. If the animals had been hungry, they would have preyed on cattle or children in nearby villages. But that is not the case as the forest is full of wild boars and deer on whom leopards prey,” the DFO added.
Titlagarh ranger Jatindriya Nanda also admitted the presence of a leopard in the area, and urged the people not to panic as adequate steps have been taken to ensure that the animal doesn’t enter human settlements.
“We are aware of the video on social media. After verifying its authenticity, we have alerted our staff. They are now visiting villages and asking the people to remain alert at night,” said Nanda.
Nanda said usually leopards are spotted near the ordnance factory. Even though we do not have any concrete data about the exact number of leopards, preventive measures have been taken, he added.
A leopard was photographed sitting on a concrete structure carrying water pipes a few months back near a water supply project in Dumerbahal from which water is supplied to the ordnance factory.
People saw the leopard sitting on the cement structure while going to Bolangir from Titilagarh. After a few minutes it vanished, locals said.
Sources said there are around eight leopards in Titlagarh forest range. But there have been no attacks by them so far.
PNN
