Leopard sightings trigger panic in Panchkula

PANCHKULA: Frequent sights of leopards within the bounds of residential areas in Panchkula have spread a fear of the big cat among city residents. In last 15 days, leopards have been sighted four times, including the one sighted thrice near Mansa Devi shrine with its two cubs. The wildlife department is looking into each of the incidents as it has not been able to spot the cat after any of these incidents.
“As leopard has been seen four times in just 15 days, every body in Panchkula is worried if the wild cat would enter residential areas, just as it did in Sector 10 of Panchkula a few months ago,” says Anant Gupta, a resident of Rail Vihar, Panchkula.
A commuter, Rajesh, had reported on July 4 to have seen a leopard on Saketri road near Pir dargah. He had said the big cat, about four feet in length, was crossing the road. Forest officials say it is possible the wild cat would wander in the area owing to the thick vegetation in the area.
The fear of leopards is such that mothers are using it to scare their kids to sleep. “When my four year old daughter refuses to sleep, I scare her saying the leopard will come to her. She is aware it could be true and the formula works on her,” says Sector 19 resident from Panchkula Parul Dhingra. “Controlling the children with leopard’s fear has become easier due to the recent real incidents,” says Manoj Kaushik, a resident of Sector 25, Panchkula. A leopard and its two cubs were spotted thrice near Mansa Devi shrine about 12 days ago by the temple priest and security guards, but the forest officials could not locate the animal.
“We conduct a search whenever there is a report of a leopard being sighted. But, the previous cases could be rumours too as the people are scared,” says district forest officer R K Sharma.