Triggering PanicHyderabad, : A wave of panic has swept through Balapur and surrounding suburbs in Hyderabad after two leopards were reportedly sighted roaming within the premises of the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) campus on Friday. The sighting has prompted heightened alertness among residents, defense personnel, and local authorities, with forest teams launching operations to locate and capture the big cats.
A viral video clip circulating on social media shows the leopards moving through a secluded area of the RCI campus, a high-security defense research facility. Eyewitnesses reported that the animals appeared to retreat into a densely wooded section of the campus, intensifying concerns among locals. Residents immediately alerted the Balapur police and the Telangana Forest Department, who have since descended on the scene to verify the reports and analyze surveillance footage from cameras in and around the campus.The Forest Department has deployed specialized teams to track the leopards, employing tranquilizers and traps to ensure their safe capture while minimizing risk to both the animals and the public. Authorities suspect the leopards may have strayed into the urban area from nearby forests, a phenomenon increasingly common as Hyderabad’s suburbs encroach on natural habitats.
Public Advisory Issued in response to the sighting, the RCI management and Defence Laboratories School Vignyanakancha have issued urgent advisories. Parents have been instructed to exercise extreme caution, ensuring children do not venture outside alone. “We urge residents to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary and to report any leopard sightings immediately to the authorities,” said a senior official from the Balapur police.The advisory also emphasized vigilance among RCI staff and nearby residents, with authorities urging people to secure their homes and avoid isolated or wooded areas until the leopards are safely captured.Rising Human-Wildlife ConflictThe incident has sparked renewed discussions about human-wildlife conflict in Hyderabad’s rapidly expanding urban landscape.
Environmentalists point out that deforestation and urban sprawl have pushed wildlife, including leopards, into closer proximity with human settlements. “Leopards are elusive and avoid confrontation, but habitat loss is forcing them into urban areas,” said a Forest Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Local residents expressed fear and uncertainty. “We’ve never seen anything like this in Balapur before,” said Priya Reddy, a resident of a nearby housing colony. “It’s scary to think these animals are so close to our homes.”Ongoing EffortsAs of Saturday morning, forest officials and police continue their search, combing the RCI campus and surrounding areas. The operation is being conducted with utmost caution to avoid agitating the leopards, which could lead to dangerous encounters. Authorities have assured the public that updates will be provided as the situation develops.
