As late as late at night, a leopard was seen in a residential compound in Mangaluru, which scared the residents to death. Wild animals have not been part of the conversation since they appeared, and nobody has been happy with the sudden intrusion. The leopard was seen trying to hunt a dog before the dog left the neighbourhood, and the leopard followed it as it went home. The whole thing was recorded by the owners who installed a CCTV camera to see the leopard in the neighbourhood.
The leopard entered Nithin Kotyan’s compound at night, residents say. The leopard was seen moving around outside in the open and seemed calm and unafraid as it went about its surroundings. The video has caught the attention of residents who were unaware that a leopard had gotten so close to residential homes.
The leopard’s attack was particularly worrying because a pet dog at the family’s house was targeted by the animal, witnesses said. The leopard appeared to be stalking the dog and was probably hunting it down as potential prey,” said one witness. But the dog escaped from the leopard in time by running away.
People living in the area fear for their pets and small livestock. Wildlife sightings in areas near humans have soared, residents say. Leopards that enter residential areas are usually associated with habitat loss, shrinking forest cover, and the search for food.
CCTV footage clearly shows the leopard confidently walking around the compound before moving out of the area. Wildlife experts say leopards are very adaptable animals and can often survive close to human settlements if food is available. But leopards in populated areas can pose a grave risk to both humans and the animals.
The Forest Department was contacted by residents to report it after the incident. The leopard is expected to be in the area, and officials will check if it has been regularly visiting the village. Forest staff can also set up camera traps to monitor the leopard and prevent any human-wildlife conflict.
Residents are advised to be cautious, especially at night. People should be wary of going out after dark, keep children indoors at night, keep them indoors in the evening and protect pets in homes or in a safe place, they said. Residents should not panic and should not approach the animal if it happens again, they said.
The sighting serves as a reminder of the growing interaction between wildlife and human settlements near forests. With growing concern in Bannadka and neighbouring areas, residents hope that the Forest Department will take quick action to ensure safety and also protect the leopard from harm. Keeping an eye on the situation is most important as officials keep an eye on it.
