Veerasagara village residents in Nelamangala taluk, approximately 33.3 km from the heart of Bengaluru, are living in fear and high alert. Over the last three months, a leopard is said to have become the village's frequent hunting ground, coming dangerously close to homes and preying on domestic animals during the cover of night.
Livestock and Pets Targeted
This week, alarm reached a tipping point after a series of predatory attacks. Nagaraju, a local resident, said the big cat entered his land and killed a goat and a calf. Not only was the loss financially damaging but it brought to the fore the animal’s audacity in invading human-occupied areas of the community. The presence of the leopard has been deadly to the village’s canine population, too. Siddaraju, another resident, said only three days earlier, the predator snatched and dragged away two of his pet dogs. Now, stray dog attacks occur every night, many viewers report that the leopard will chase its prey and drag it into the local thickets.
CCTV Evidence Confirms Sightings
Although the first sightings would have depended on the early morning/late night, CCTV footage now presented us with hard evidence of the danger. The video depicted the leopard running briskly through village streets and pursued a street dog across a residential layout. The images have since gone viral on local community groups, fueling the panic among parents who still haven’t opened the door to leaving their children outside after sunset.
Villagers Urge Immediate Action
Notifying the Nelamangala Range Forest Officials, residents claim no “concrete steps” have been made to trap or relocate the animal. Community leaders have issued warnings that the current "wait and watch" tactic by authorities might result in a tragedy involving people. "It’s no longer safe walking out in the morning or even just heading out in the fields to go out," one resident said. "The forest department needs to set up cages and camera traps immediately before the leopard goes after a human."
Increasing Human-Wildlife Conflict
Nelamangala, which is situated on the outskirts of the Bengaluru North district, has witnessed growing human-wildlife conflicts. Experts say the decreasing forest cover and proximity of the Shivagange hill region, a popular leopard area, are bringing the big cats to rural areas in search of “easy prey” such as livestock and dogs. Now, the villagers of Veerasagara have to wait some time for a permanent solution for themselves, locking their doors and keeping livestock out of reach by nightfall.
