VISAKHAPATNAM: Rushikonda area remained tense after footage of a wild animal suspected to be a leopard moving in the region began doing the rounds on social media.
Though the footage was captured on June 6, the incident came to light only on Saturday when a local daily broke the story. The Forest Department installed night vision cameras around the area last week to look for the animal.
Singapore Layout Association handed over footage captured by its CCTV cameras showing the animal prowling the area to the Forest Department a couple of days after the incident, but the department kept it under wraps to prevent people from panicking.
According to Visakhapatnam District Forest Officer Selvam, the animal may have come in search of food to a spot where waste is being dumped regularly. “We are not sure what animal it is. The video is not clear. It could be a leopard. But as soon as we got hold of the video, we installed night vision cameras and directed watchmen to be alert.
It’s been over a week since the clip was captured, but the animal has not been spotted yet. Nevertheless, the night vision cameras will not be removed any time soon,” Selvam told Express.
Animals have, several times in the past, strayed into the area from Kambalakonda Reserve Forest.