Berhampur: Panic gripped Jakar village and nearby areas under Digapahandi Forest Range in Odisha’s Ganjam district following reports of leopard movement near Maa Ratanei Temple adjacent to Ratanei reserved forest area.
The Forest Department has deployed drone cameras to trace the leopard and later installed two trap cameras near cattle sheds and riverbank areas.
According to villagers, the wild animal entered a cattle shed and killed three goats. The scare intensified after some travellers, moving from Digapahandi towards Chikiti on Saturday afternoon, reportedly spotted a leopard near the forest stretch and recorded videos and photographs on their mobile phones. The visuals soon went viral on social media, drawing large crowds from nearby villages to the spot.
On receiving information, forest officials led by Ranger Dibyaranjan Sahu, Chikiti Forester Kamana Bhuinya, Forest Guard Mitarani Biswasray and squad member Santosh Gouda reached the area on Sunday and launched an investigation.
However, officials said no pugmarks of the animal were found in the locality or nearby forest areas.
Forest personnel also interacted with villagers and advised them to keep domestic animals secured inside cattle sheds during night hours and remain vigilant until the situation becomes clear.
