Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A leopard was spotted in a township near the Manglia-Rau Bypass on Wednesday night. The entire incident was captured on CCTV.
On Thursday morning, a security guard alerted residents about the leopard’s presence, causing widespread fear among the local population. In response, the forest department’s rescue team arrived at the township to search for the animal. The team conducted a thorough search across several locations for several hours.
However, forest officials have not yet clarified the situation regarding the leopard’s presence. It is suspected that the animal may have come from the nearby Ralamandal Sanctuary, as the distance between the township and the sanctuary is relatively short.
Authorities believe that the rising temperatures may have driven the leopard out of the forest in search of water, leading it into the residential area. The leopard was first spotted in the Silver Spring Township, located along the bypass, on Wednesday night.
CCTV footage shows the leopard roaming around an empty plot for about an hour. The township committee has urged residents to stay alert, as many people take morning and evening walks in the area. By 10 am on Thursday, the rescue team arrived and reviewed the CCTV footage, confirming the leopard’s presence.
Based on this footage, a search operation was launched within the township. Some paw prints were also found in various locations, although it is still unclear whether the leopard came from the Devguradia area or the Ralamandal Sanctuary.
Third leopard sighting in two-and-a-half months
Between January and March, three leopard sightings have been reported in areas near the bypass. On January 23, a leopard was seen moving in the Mansarovar Colony. After over three hours of effort, 18 forest staff members were able to capture the animal.
On March 6, a leopard was spotted in a colony in Devguradia, an incident that was also recorded on CCTV. The latest sighting occurred on March 20 in the Silver Spring township.
Seven leopards in Ralamandal Sanctuary
The Ralamandal Sanctuary, covering 234 hectares, has shown multiple signs of leopard activity. There are currently seven leopards in the sanctuary, including five adults and two cubs. Leopards have also been spotted moving outside the sanctuary on several occasions. Forest officials have found paw prints and scat in the sanctuary’s animal zone, indicating the presence of leopards.
Leopards venturing out in search of water
With the increasing heat, leopards are venturing out of the forest in search of food and water. While the exact origin of the leopard spotted in the township remains unknown, authorities have advised residents to remain cautious.
