Residents of Anjanapura, an emerging locality in South Bengaluru, fear the ever elusive leopard that is often spotted in the vicinity. Not only that, the elusive big cat who, according to reports, has made the rocky landscape of Anjanapura his home for the past four years is so feared that people cannot enjoy their daily life beyond hours of fear of the beast; the area no longer has overnight online food deliveries, and there appears to be a general after sunset curfew in place today.
The Anjanapura Shivers, a City on the Edge
In Anjanapura, there is an almost tangible fear. Around 6 pm at dusk, bustling streets give way to a faint departure, shops close and people close their doors or lock themselves into their homes. The exciting nights were long gone, replaced with an eerie nothingness, followed by just a stray dog barking or rustling leaves.
Four Years of Terror
This phenomenon is not new to the leopard. Local residents have been reporting repeated sightings in the past four years, once dismissed as rumors and now as a fact. Many of the residents describe sightings of the leopard themselves as terrifying scurrying across the streets especially from nightfall on into the evening, some of them say.
Impact on Daily Life
- No Online Deliveries: This has been the worst disruption we have had to put up with. Food delivery services such as Swiggy and Zomato and other online delivery carriers have reportedly blacklisted Anjanapura for evening orders. “If it’s online and you’re talking about Anjanapura, they cancel it very often whenever they see it,” one resident says, stressing the difficulty. A Swiggy delivery executive was barely able to survive a near-fatal accident last year when the leopard happened to suddenly appear in front of his bike, frightening both himself and others. This scene was an opportunity to cement a reputation for the area as a no-go stop after dark for delivery personnel.
- Reluctance of Auto and Taxi Drivers: Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers shy away from entering Anjanapura after 6:00 PM. Most outright reject, trapping residents or forcing them to rely on private vehicles, even for short trips.
- Early Curfew: Streets around Anjanapura are deserted by 6:00 PM. Children are not allowed to play outside anymore, and adults try to avoid stepping outside even to run errands.
- Shop Closures: Establishments and shops that used to have openings until late now close by 6 PM, leaving local people further in disarray.
The Wildlife-Urban Conflict
Anjanapura, on the outskirts of an increasingly urbanised area in Bengaluru, is surrounded by much of the natural arboreal landscape as well as rocky outcrops — suitable wildlife habitats for leopards. With the city encroaching upon these lands, it appears that such conflicts are becoming frequent. New schemes and residential complexes reduce the animals' natural hunting areas even more, forcing them instead into human settlements for food.
What Are the Authorities Doing?
Residents have appealed repeatedly to the Forest Department and local authorities for intervention. Trap cages have been set up in the past infrequently, but the leopard's elusive nature and ability to adapt itself to humans has made capture of it impossible. The department acknowledges the problem but notes that capturing an extremely intelligent animal and keeping it from being detected remains complex.
The Road Ahead
As of now, the inhabitants of Anjanapura live in terror. They are not unaware of the irony of such a primal foe to this modern city that is now wrestling with it. Until an enduring solution to the problem is arrived at, the nights in Anjanapura will be silent and the anxiety over the leopard will rule the rhythm of after-dark life.
