NAGPUR: After its brief stay on the premises of Ordnance Factory, Ambhajari, the leopard has returned to Ambazari reserve forest. Senior forest officials believe the animal seems to have settled down in the biodiversity park, spread over 758 hectares.
On July 9, the security personnel had recorded pugmarks of the leopard in Ordnance Factory. On July 15, the leopard was again sighted by the security guards during the wee hours. It is the same Ambazari leopard.
“Now, the big cat has returned to Ambazari forest. It was not only recorded in the camera traps but there was also a direct sighting to the patrolling staff on July 16 & 17,” confirmed Bharat Singh Hada, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Nagpur.
The news of leopard’s presence went viral again when it was spotted on Sunday night in an under-construction building by some residents near Kothari Layout, Kachimet, adjoining the Nagpur University campus on Amravati Road.
“The residents alerted police but on learning about it, our team reached the spot immediately and found that the leopard had already left. This was around 10.30pm,” said Hingna RFO Ashish Ninawe.
Hada said it seems the leopard has settled down in Ambazari and must be shuffling between nearby areas having good vegetation. It has been moving peacefully and has not harmed any human since it was spotted on May 28 near IT Park on South Ambazari Road.
“With the presence of leopard, opening Ambazari Biodiversity Park for visitors poses a risk. Though leopard movement is mostly nocturnal, we will have to see people move inside in groups,” said Hada.
