Leopard on the Loose in Ahmedabad! Forest Search Underway 🐾
Leopard on the Loose in Ahmedabad! Forest Search Underway 🐾
A leopard sighting in a Ghuma residential society has sparked a massive search by forest officials in Ahmedabad. Stay alert and learn how authorities are working to safely capture the big cat.
A nocturnal visitor sent shivers through a residential society in Ghuma, South Ahmedabad, as a leopard was caught on CCTV in the early hours of Monday. The sighting has prompted the Gujarat forest department to launch a wide-scale search and trapping operation, urging residents to remain vigilant.
The big cat was first spotted around 2 AM near the entrance of Sharandeep Society on Ghuma VIP Road. Residents, alerted by neighbors, reviewed CCTV footage, confirming the presence of the leopard. This quickly led to the forest department being informed, and a video of the animal moving through the premises has since circulated on social media.
Forest officials have verified the footage and found compelling physical evidence, including feathers and pug marks, confirming the leopard's visit. It's believed the animal lifted and partially consumed a chicken from a nearby poultry unit before spending about ten minutes in the parking area and then departing. Chief Conservator of Forests, Ahmedabad, K. Ramesh, highlighted the findings, including pug marks on the compound wall.
Three trap cages have been strategically placed in areas where the leopard is most likely to move, and forest staff have been deployed to trace the animal. Ramesh emphasized that leopards, like lions and tigers, are primarily nocturnal, making capture attempts more successful after sunset. He appealed to residents for cooperation, requesting them to avoid gathering at potential sighting spots. "A leopard will not enter a cage if there is a commotion around it," he stated, underscoring that public cooperation significantly increases the chances of a safe capture.
The incident also brings to light the expansion of urban areas into wildlife habitats. Ramesh noted that a decade ago, much of what is now Ahmedabad was farmland. As housing societies grow, encounters with wildlife become more frequent, and CCTV cameras now often capture these interactions, leading to quicker reports and responses.
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