After tigers, now leopard triggers panic in Asifabad

Forest officials reported that leopard pugmarks were found in the Ameenpur forest beat near the village. They urged locals to remain cautious and advised farmers not to enter agricultural fields before 10 a.m. and to leave by 4 p.m. They also recommended that cotton growers work in groups and wear face masks for added safety.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Movement of a leopard triggered panic among residents of Nambala, Thakkallapalli, Pulikunta and Gangapur villages in Rebbena mandal on Monday.

Forest officials said that pugmarks of a leopard were recorded in Ameenpur forest beat near the village. They advised the locals to be cautious. They told the farmers not to enter agriculture fields till 10 am and leave the farms before 4 pm. They asked the cotton growers to move in groups and wear face masks.

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Locals said that the leopard killed a wild boar in the forests recently. Shepherds were hesitating to graze cattle in the forests, pointing out that the leopard was sometimes sighted in agriculture fields, affecting the harvesting of the cotton crop and other farm operations for quite a long time.

Meanwhile, Forest officials clarified that a leopard killed a buffalo on the outskirts of Darogapalli village in Penchikalpet mandal on Sunday evening. They inspected the spot of the incident and recorded pugmarks of the leopard on Monday. They stated that compensation would quickly be extended to owners of cattle if buffaloes, cows and sheep were killed by carnivores.