Hyderabad, May 16: Is there another leopard on the prowl in Shamshabad and nearby areas?
Though forest officials trapped a leopard a few days ago, they believe there is another leopard which is moving in the same areas giving sleepless nights to residents of Shamshabad, Raidurgam and surrounding localities.
Forest officials said there are signs of one more leopard moving in these areas though they trapped one leopard recently.
On May 11, the leopard was trapped by forest officials after several days of meticulous planning at Gandeed mandal.
The wild cat had created havoc by killing nearly 25 calves in villages of the neighbouring Rangareddy district.
Frightened villagers are now fearing to come out of their houses, especially in the evening, after forest officials said there is the possibility of one more untraced leopard moving in the area.
“There are indications that a leopard is moving in Shamshabad and Ibrahimpatnam. We think the leopard caught on May 11 is different from the one moving in these areas,” forest range officer B Lakshman told Express.
Assistant conservator of forests K Shekar Reddy said the five-and-a half-year old leopard will soon be released into the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve forest in the Mahaboobnagar district.
The trapped animal has been kept at Nehru Zoological park presently.
Officials said the leopard caught is the second catch in the last several months.
Previously, another leopard was caught in December 2010 and brought to the Nehru Zoological park.
After keeping the leopard under observation and treatment for a couple of days, forest range officials released the wild cat in the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve forest.
K Shekar Reddy said the leopard is being kept in the zoo for proper protection and also for display to visitors.
P Srinivas, veterinary assistant surgeon of the zoo said the leopard is under observation and its health is getting better.
–Agencies