In the: Forest officials have stepped up vigil around Chinnarutla village near Dornala after a leopard attacked a three-year-old tribal girl on the night of August 13, creating panic in the hamlet. The child was picked up by the big cat from her home. Hearing her father’s desperate screams, the leopard dropped the toddler and retreated into the forest. The injured girl is undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Dornala and is said to be recovering, officials confirmed.
To prevent further incidents, the forest department has installed 15 trap cameras around the village and deployed a team of 15 staff to monitor the area around the clock. A rescue van has also been stationed nearby to capture the leopard if it is spotted, particularly if the animal is found to be injured or sick.
“We are fixing the cameras every evening around 6 pm., and checking the footage the next morning. This monitoring exercise will continue for at least 15 days,” said S. Hari, Forest Range Officer of Dornala and in-charge of Nekkanti Range, told this correspondent.
Explaining the possible reasons behind such attacks, Hari said leopards usually target humans only when they are old or unwell and unable to hunt their natural prey. He also reminded that the village falls under the Nagarjuna Sagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve, where movement of wild animals is common.
Meanwhile, responding to concerns raised by tribals, Hari said a proposal to provide regular power supply to the habitations is under consideration. He said that solar power units have already been distributed and assured that repairs to the damaged systems would be taken up soon.
