Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120555760800.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Fear of big cat haunts residents of Peerzadiguda

— Photo: Mohd.Yousuf

SETTING THE TRAP: Residents of Sri Balaji Township, Peerzadiguda, setting up the cage with a goat as the bait.

HYDERABAD: The cage in the middle of this nondescript colony at Peerzadiguda mandal in the city outskirts has become a focal point around which, these days, the lives of its residents revolve. Every night, the residents take turn and volunteer to be on the vigil throughout the night, with the goat inside the cage as bait.

By 6 p.m., the windows and doors are closed. Women and children are not allowed to venture after dusk. Even domesticated animals like dogs, cats and livestock is locked inside. The 14 families in the Sri Balaji Township at Peerzadiguda are in the grip of fear from the attack of the big cats.

A week back, a big cat, locals swear that it was a leopard, stomped freely on the roof of a resident K. Praveen. “The animal was so heavy that we could hear its footsteps while sleeping inside. We did not open the doors. The next day, we found the pugmarks embedded on the just plastered compound walls,” recalls Mr. Praveen.

Extensive forest cover, close to Peerzadiguda, can be found in areas like Narapally, Edulabad till Ghatkesar. The locals have frequently complained about a huge cat like carnivore roaming in the night, hunting and trying to catch domesticated animals.

Wildlife officials quickly swung into action after getting complaints from the locals.

The pugmarks were photographed and their imprints were lifted by using plaster of Paris. A huge cage was set up to bait the cat and locals were asked to keep a vigil for few days.

“We will keep the cage for a few more days.

We are unable to exactly pinpoint the animal in question. The pugmarks we have collected at not clear. Definitely the animal is nocturnal in its nature and there is a lot of green cover in and around Peerzadiguda,” says Forest Range Officer (North Zone) Janaki Ram.

Meanwhile, tense nights continue for residents. “We are worried what will happen to us.

All the owners are elderly and it’s tough for us to act in emergencies,” secretary to Sri Balaji Township Residential Welfare Association S. Satyanarayana says.