Leopard Footprint in Sanand Sparks Panic: Cages Deployed After Predator Targets Stray Dog

Panic has gripped villagers in Sanand following fresh footprint evidence of a leopard near Moti Devti village, prompting the forest department to deploy iron cages and launch drone surveillance.

The alert was raised after residents spotted suspicious pugmarks along the road leading to the village. Local reports indicate that the predator may have targeted a stray dog near a local brick kiln, intensifying anxiety across the agrarian belt.

Forest officials rushed to the area immediately upon receiving the alert. Teams have set up fresh traps alongside existing cages, while wildlife personnel comb through dense bushes and surrounding agricultural tracts.

Shifting Terrain Poses Tracking Hurdles

Leopard sightings are increasingly common in the outskirts of Ahmedabad, with previous movements recorded near Shela, Vaishnodevi, and surrounding western suburbs. However, tracking the animal remains a complex challenge for authorities.

Range Forest Officer Hareshbhai Desai noted that while pugmarks confirm the leopard's presence near Moti Devti, the animal's exact location remains fluid due to heavy human activity.

Range Forest Officer Hareshbhai Desai explained that, unlike a dense forest, it was a semi-urban landscape marked by constant traffic and construction. He added that, driven by the search for food and water, the leopard could cover up to sixty kilometres in a single day, which made its route entirely unpredictable.

Authorities Step Up Surveillance

The forest department has re-deployed drone cameras to scan the terrain from the air and map the animal's movement patterns. Officials are urging local residents to exercise caution during early morning and late evening hours, advising farmers and workers to avoid venturing alone near isolated brick kilns and scrublands until the big cat is safely captured.