Berhampur: A viral video of a leopard reportedly perched atop a hill near Sunakhala Pahad since Saturday has sparked widespread panic in Lanka village under Digapahandi block in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
On being informed, a team from Samantiyapalli range of the Forest Department visited the village and launched an inquiry to authenticate the video footage and determine whether the animal captured in it is indeed a leopard or another
species of wild animal. “We saw a viral video. A team led by a forester is probing the matter,” a forest official told a local news channel.
It is being suspected to be a fishing cat since no pugmarks have been sighted nor any evidence of predation on livestock or other animals have been found at the site.
However, residents have been urged to remain vigilant, stay indoors, and avoid spreading unverified rumours. They have also been advised to retreat inside on noticing any unusual wildlife activity and stay calm.
Ganjam district has seen multiple wildlife alerts in recent times, including confirmed tiger pugmarks and livestock killings. A newborn calf was found in a half-eaten state and pugmarks of a leopard were found at Sidhapadar village near Mujagada forest in North Ghumusur division of the district in December last year.