Spurt in sighting of leopards triggers panic

MYSURU: Prompted by the sighting of a leopard at the Brindavan Gardens on the premises of the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Dam in Mandya – the big cat was spotted twice in a week’s time – foresters were forced to set up camp at the reservoir to rescue the leopard. With the big cat on the prowl, the authorities were forced to close the dam to tourists twice, although the reservoir was on Monday reopened to the public.
Historically, leopards are considered ‘shy’ animals, and recorded instances of their setting upon human beings are far and few between. However, neither the forest department, nor the authorities at KRS Dam were willing to risk the safety of tourists, prompting the latter to close the doors to public. The sighting of the leopard at Brindavan Gardens is the latest in a long line of such incidents reported in the recent past in Mysuru and Mandya districts.
Nearly two months ago, a leopard was sighted on the campus of the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt Ltd in Metagalli, compelling the authorities at Kendriya Vidyalaya school, also on the campus, to suspend on-campus classes. Foresters were deployed on the campus to monitor the movement of the leopard, and rescue it.
Increased intrusion by human beings into the forests, which surround most villages and towns in the Old Mysore region, coupled with the spurt in the population of leopards in these woods has resulted in an increase in the incidence of the big cats straying into human habitats.
Chief conservator of forests, Malathi Priya M, admitting that incidents of leopards wandering into human habitats was becoming disturbingly frequent in Mysuru and Mandya, told TOI, “Fortunately, there have been no reports of anyone being attacked by the big cats. Most of these leopards are straying into villages and towns while foraging for food. Each time the forest department has been alerted about a leopard being spotted among human beings, personnel have rushed to the spot, and measures, including the placing of cages, have been taken to rescue the big cats.”
On average, the forest department receives 10 calls from worried residents, who fear the presence of a leopard in their midst. Residents from various parts of Mysuru taluk, T Narasipura, HD Kote in Mysuru district, in Srirangapatna in Mandya, have reported spotting leopards in villages and towns in the recent past.
Deputy conservator of forests (territorial) Kamala K said that they had rescued two dozen leopards in Mysuru district in the past two months. She added that, in most cases, the big cat was bound to return to the woods after a few days.
Another forest department officer attributed the spurt in sighting of leopards outside the forest to the breeding season, which led the big cats to seek shelter in villages and towns, since they find it easier to find food.
Foresters arrest man in
possession of deer carcass
Officials of the forest department in Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Monday arrested a man found in possession of the carcass of a deer in the Maddur forest range near Gundlupet. Foresters arrested Shanmuga, a resident of Maddur Colony in Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district. Foresters said that Shanmuga, along with four others, was found prowling suspiciously inside the forest. Range officers intercepted the group of five near the Neralemara Forest. While four others fled the spot, Shanmuga, who was carrying the bag with the carcass of the deer, was nabbed.
Foresters said that the gang, having killed the deer for its meat, was transporting it outside the forest before the officials waylaid the gang.