Mahabubnagar residents felt relieved on Monday after forest officials captured a leopard that had been roaming the rocky hills of TD Gutta and Veerannapeta for more than two months.
District Forest Officer Satyanarayana said the leopard had been difficult to catch despite their efforts. “We used four trap cages and several camera traps to monitor it. However, it would often retreat into the forest, coming back to TD Gutta only every 15–20 days,” he said.
Two days ago, the leopard was seen resting on a large boulder near TD Gutta. Officials think it was drawn to the area by stray dogs around a local dumping yard. The dense forest and rock shelters on the hill provided it with a safe place to rest.
Although the leopard never entered residential areas, its presence worried villagers, who avoided the hills after dark. The capture brought relief to both locals and officials.
Satyanarayana took the opportunity to address a larger issue: human encroachment into wildlife habitats. “It’s not the animals coming into our areas; we’re moving into theirs. Expanding roads, new housing, and deforestation are driving wildlife closer to human spaces,” he said, advising people near forests to be careful and respect natural boundaries.
The leopard will be moved to a safer habitat, ensuring safety for both the community and the animal.
