Tiger and leopard scare in 2 Odisha districts

Panic has gripped people in Nuapada and Koraput districts after some of the villagers over the movement of a leopard and a Royal Bengal tiger in their respective areas for the past couple of days.

The locals at Khaira village under Boden block in Nuapada district alleged that a leopard killed a bullock last night. As per locals, the bullock belongs to one Jit Majhi who earns his living by working as a day labourer.

“Jit is a very poor fellow. He has his old mother and mentally retarded daughter at home. The leopard has killed his bullock. Jit earns his living by ploughing others’ lands. The poor fellow is helpless after his bullock was killed by the wild animal. How will he earn his living now?” said a villager.

Meanwhile, panic gripped the residents of Kotia gram panchayat in Koraput district over the presence of a Royal Bengal tiger near Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. The forest officials alerted the people in the nearby villages not to venture out from their houses alone. 

“There are reports of a vagrant tiger's movements in the forests of Andhra Pradesh some distance from the Kotia and Kaspavalasa border. Necessary awareness exercise is being carried out by both Forest Depts in the area. There is no cause for concern,” tweeted Koraput Collector.

Meanwhile, Koraput and Semiliguda forest officials are trying to track the movement of the big cat.

“We are observing the movement of the tiger and coordinating with different forest ranges. The wild animal is regularly coming to Kotia border and returning to Andhra Pradesh. People should not sleep outside during the night and become careful,” said Koraput DFO Amitarani Roy.