Bengaluru: Frequent leopard sightings in Nelamangala taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru have triggered panic, with villages reporting attacks on pets and livestock. In two separate incidents Tuesday, a month-old male cub was rescued from a field at Mallarabanavadi, while CCTV footage from Soladevanahalli captured a full-grown leopard prowling near houses and hunting domestic animals in daylight.The cub was spotted by villagers near a clump of bushes in farmland. Believed to be barely a month old, it was found whimpering alone, apparently after being separated from its mother. Villagers secured the cub and alerted the forest department. A team led by Nelamangala range forest officer Manjunath shifted the cub to Bannerghatta Rehabilitation Centre for further treatment.Meanwhile, residents of Soladevanahalli are on edge after CCTV footage showed a leopard moving close to residential properties and preying on domestic animals. Locals allege that leopards have been frequently straying into residential areas, targeting pet dogs and livestock. Forest officials attribute the increased sightings to the leopard population in nearby wooded areas and agricultural patches. The animals are believed to be venturing closer to human settlements in search of easy prey.Concerned about the potential threat to residents, villagers have petitioned forest department officials to deploy baited cages and capture the leopards.
