SRINAGAR: Panic gripped Natipora area of Srinagar after a leopard was spotted there late on Saturday night forcing the wildlife department to rush a team to the area to catch the animal.
Locals of Har Namal area of Natipora told news agency KNO a leopard was spotted in the area at around 10 pm Saturday after which they informed the police. The police acted swiftly, informed the wildlife department, asked people not to venture out unnecessarily and urged them to stay alert to avoid any damage by the animal.
“Locals are making announcements through masjid loudspeakers in the area asking people to remain alert and not to venture out of homes unnecessarily,” Imtiyaz Ahmed, a local resident said.
Regional Wildlife warden Kashmir, Rashid Naqash told KNO that immediately after they received information about the presence of a leopard in Har Nambal area of Natipora on Saturday late evening through the Police Control Room (PCR), a team was rushed to the spot to ascertain and scan the area.
“Presence of leopard has been established on the basis of tracks, pug marks and scats,” he said, adding that efforts are on to track and catch the animal.