A leopard was recently spotted on the pedestrian route in Tirumala by forest rangers after almost ten months. Cameras set up by the forest department to monitor wildlife captured the leopard’s movement.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has increased security on the two walkways, Alipiri and Srivari Mettu, that lead to the temple. Devotees have been warned not to trek alone due to the presence of the leopard, which may have been driven towards the walkway in search of food and water.
In June 2023, a leopard attacked a three-year-old boy at mile seven, followed by the fatal attack on six-year-old Lakshitha near Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple in August 2023. In response, the TTD started issuing sticks to trekkers and encouraged them to walk in groups to reduce the risk of leopard attacks.
