Increasing Wildlife Activity in Religious Locations
Roaming wild animals close to sacred sites appear to have become too common a feature of present-day India. From Srisailam to Tirumala, leopards have been seen near these holy places, causing a good deal of concern not only to the devotees but also the local residents. In search of food, these wild cats happen to leave their natural habitats and venture into human-populated areas. The latest incident in Srisailam has once again brought this alarming trend to the limelight.
Leopard Sighting Near AE Officer’s Residence, Srisailam
A leopard was spotted in the recent past at Srisailam causing lot of commotion among the local people. It was observed close to the residence of an AE Officer enroute Pathala Ganga. The CCTV cameras clearly captured the wild cat moving along the perimeter wall of the house with the clear intention to try its ambition to snatch a dog. Luckily, the dog escaped unharmed and the leopard missed by a whisker. It is at the wee morning hours of Tuesday that the leopard was spotted around several houses in the area.
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Scare among the Residents
Understandably, due to the presence of a leopard, there is a lot of fear and anxiety faced by all the local people. A wild predator coming into the residential areas can be very unnerving, and in a place like Srisailam, which is a major pilgrimage site, this can turn out to be difficult. The close proximity of the leopard to the houses has raised an alarm about the safety of children, population, and even pets.
After the leopard was spotted, officials from the Forest Department reached the scene and immediately started trying to capture it for its safe release in its natural habitat. The department has also urged the locals to remain alert and take all necessary precautions so that no possible contact with the wild cat occurs.
The Bigger Picture: Human-Wildlife Conflict
Response of the Forest Department
It is being counted among the many others in different parts of the country as the incidence of human-wildlife conflict grows. A threat to human lives, it also poses one to the animals who are entering human settlements seeking food due to their forest fringing because of urbanization and deforestation. Resultantly, this is making contact with humans fatal, which could have been avoided if there were better wildlife management and conservation efforts.
Conclusively, these recent sightings of a leopard in Srisailam are just an exact reminder of the thin separation line between civilization and conservation. Much more critically important is addressing the root cause of such incidents to be able to guarantee a safe environment for both human beings and animal species.
