Leopard on the prowl near Professor Jayashankar Agricultural University?

Venkatesh Goud, a businessman, who was out on a morning walk on the campus, claimed to have spotted a leopard in the early hours of Sunday; officials form team to monitor campus and its surroundings

Hyderabad: Is a leopard on the prowl on Hyderabad outskirts near Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University campus? The Telangana Forest Department is now anxious after reports started to trickle in about the sighting of a big cat on the campus on Sunday.

Venkatesh Goud, a businessman, who was out on a morning walk on the campus, claimed to have spotted a leopard in the early hours of Sunday. He raised an alarm and alerted others about the ‘presence’ of the leopard and asked them to be careful.

---

“I was sitting near the statue in the university when I noticed the leopard walking at a little distance. It moved into the thick vegetation and then disappeared,” Venkatesh told the media persons.

The security guards were informed and soon the Rajendranagar police reached the spot. “As a precautionary measure, we alerted the local residents in nearby colonies and informed the forest officials,” said an official of Rajendranagar police station.

The forest team too arrived at the campus and examined the place. “We collected some pugmarks and are examining. Closed circuit cameras were installed to capture the movement of the animal,” said Forest Divisional Officer (Shamshabad) Vijaya Anand. The forest officials formed a team to monitor the campus and its surroundings.

Sighting of a leopard is not rare in Rajendranagar and Shamshabad areas. In previous instances, the Forest Department had trapped a leopard near Himayatsagar. The leopard was then found moving around the Gagan Pahad, Shamshabad, Rajendranagar, Himayatsagar and Moinabad villages.

Until two decades ago, leopards were regularly sighted on the fringes of Rajendranagar and Shamshabad. Due to Outer Ring Road and real estate activity, the leopards moved away from these areas.