Leopard kills calves, dogs in Ramayampet; Villagers put on high alert

Ramayampet Forest Range Officer K Vidyasagar, who interacted with villagers, said the dumping of municipal waste which include chicken waste was also attracting the leopard to the forest fringes.

Medak: Forest officials have put farmers and villagers living on the forest fringes in Ramayampet mandal on high alert as a leopard killed two calves and a street dog in the last fortnight in various villages in the mandal.

The leopard killed the domestic animals just 15 days after a leopard was killed in a road accident close to the place on January 31. Following the killing of the calves and dog, Ramayampet Forest Range Officer K Vidyasagar, who interacted with villagers on Friday night, said the dumping of municipal waste which include chicken waste was also attracting the leopard to the forest fringes.

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Since there was enough water in the Sarvaikunta lake, he said the leopard was frequently coming out of the forest. Vidyasagar suggested the farmers not to keep their cattle in the sheds located on the forest fringes away from the village. The FRO suggested them to take the cattle into the village and keep them close to their habitation until the leopard retreats into the wild.

Forest officials burst crackers to ensure the leopard retreats into the nearby Shankapur forest block. Vidyasagar suggested the farmers to move only in groups and cautioned them to never move alone. He called upon the farmers to cooperate with them until they ensured the leopard returned deep into forest. The forest officials and Ramayampet police have decided to conduct regular patrolling during the nights. The farmers and herders, who take their cattle and livestock into the forest, were worried as they had no place other than the forest to graze their cattle. The forest department placed flexi banners at different places alerting the farmers on the movement of the leopard.