People, particularly farmers in the rural areas under Ramayampet and Nizampur mandals, are in the grip of fear for the past two months, with a leopard preying on their cattle and sheep.
In the latest instance, three sheep were reportedly killed by the leopard late on Tuesday night.
Gives the slip
Though two cages were reportedly set up to catch the leopard on either side of the road at Tonigandla village by the officials of Forest Department, the animal has been giving the slip.
The attacks take place in the midnight and the farmers fear visiting their fields even in the evening hours. So far the attacks were reported from Akkannapet, Patur, Jhansilingapur, Lakshmipur and Tonigandla.
District Forest Officer I. Padmja Rani told The Hindu that as per the latest census there are about eight leopards in the forest area of Medak.
They are moving in and around fringe areas and attacking animals. She said that it is difficult to identify which leopard has been attacking the animals.
