Bhubaneswar: Couple of days after a leopard was captured from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) premises and released safely into Chandaka forest, another leopard has reportedly been spotted at Talasahi in Rangamatia area of the city on Thursday night.
Panic has spread among the residents of Rangamatia after a local claimed that he spotted the big cat last night. The pugmarks of the leopard were also found in the adjoining land.
“I had come out of the house at around 9.30 PM yesterday when I spotted the animal inside a bush. It was around 3-feet high and 5-feet long. Later, I immediately ran away from the spot and the animal also vanished,” claimed a local who reportedly spotted the animal last night.
Officials of city forest division rushed to the spot after getting information and have started inspecting the pugmarks to establish the identity of the animal.
“After I got the news that a leopard has strayed into the area, me and my children were extremely frightened. Villagers tried to search the animal yesterday night but could not trace it. I request the forest officials to capture the animal as soon as possible,” said a local.
Sources said, the forest officials are planning to carry out patrolling in the area tonight and if required further steps will be taken to capture the animal.
Later in the day, Bhubaneswar City DFO, Ashok Mishra said that while the pugmarks traced are not of a leopard, investigation will continue and patrolling will be conducted tonight.
Earlier on Sunday, a five-year-old male leopard had strayed into Palaspalli area in Bhubaneswar. The animal was later captured by forest officials near the cargo terminal gate of BPIA and was released into Chandaka forest on Wednesday.