The new guest of Ralamandal, a young leopard is becoming a cause of fear among fitness freaks and hence, decline in regular visitors and revenue. From the usual footfall of 300 to 400, first due to coronavirus outbreak and now further down, the footfall is not even touching close to 100 in a day.
Forest officials shared that the footfall was about to pick up and seemed manageable after lockdown was lifted, as many people were coming to the sanctuary for morning walks and fitness routines. However, after the leopard moved into Ralamandal, people are scared and not turning up as usual.
Leopard’s first move
The leopard was first spotted by forest officials on October 3 and further captured on cameras in Ralamandal in the first week of October.
The leopard was first spotted on Saturday at the top of the hill. However, it was assumed to be a guest for the weekend or just a mirage. However, the leopard trended on the installed cameras and making its mark and setting a new record for the sanctuary.
While it is a great news to have a leopard living in the sanctuary as it is built for wild animals, there is a lurking danger for tourists.
Ralamandal sanctuary was open for tourists from Oct 1. Following all protocols, tourists were allowed in the campus to visit and witness the wildlife in its natural habitat.
Current status of the leopard
The leopard is still present in the Ralamandal Sanctuary. Constant leopard movement is being seen in the sanctuary and captured on CCTV. Finding leopard’s pugmarks in different areas of the sanctuary has become a usual occurrence.
Changes after leopard moved into Ralamandal
Now due to presence of the leopard, the protocol of social distancing has to be changed to forming and staying in groups. “A leopard like other wild cats are swift and tend to attack swiftly if he spots a human or animal in seclusion,” forest ranger Pushplata Mourya said.
To ensure that tourists are safeguarded and aware about the leopard, forest department took several measures. “We reduced the visiting hours temporarily to ensure that tourists do not visit in non-peak hours and remain in groups,” Pushplata said.
20-30% revenue only
Forest department is barely able to earn 20 to 30 percent of the usual revenue in the sanctuary. There has been a significant decline in the number of tourists here in the last two months. The sanctuary is currently opening for just six hours from 10 am to 4 pm.
Forest officials shared that the footfall was about to pick up and seemed manageable after lockdown was lifted, as many people were coming to the sanctuary for morning walks and fitness routines. However, after the leopard moved into Ralamandal, people are scared and not turning up as usual.
Leopard’s first move
The leopard was first spotted by forest officials on October 3 and further captured on cameras in Ralamandal in the first week of October.
The leopard was first spotted on Saturday at the top of the hill. However, it was assumed to be a guest for the weekend or just a mirage. However, the leopard trended on the installed cameras and making its mark and setting a new record for the sanctuary.
While it is a great news to have a leopard living in the sanctuary as it is built for wild animals, there is a lurking danger for tourists.
Ralamandal sanctuary was open for tourists from Oct 1. Following all protocols, tourists were allowed in the campus to visit and witness the wildlife in its natural habitat.
Current status of the leopard
The leopard is still present in the Ralamandal Sanctuary. Constant leopard movement is being seen in the sanctuary and captured on CCTV. Finding leopard’s pugmarks in different areas of the sanctuary has become a usual occurrence.
Changes after leopard moved into Ralamandal
Now due to presence of the leopard, the protocol of social distancing has to be changed to forming and staying in groups. “A leopard like other wild cats are swift and tend to attack swiftly if he spots a human or animal in seclusion,” forest ranger Pushplata Mourya said.
To ensure that tourists are safeguarded and aware about the leopard, forest department took several measures. “We reduced the visiting hours temporarily to ensure that tourists do not visit in non-peak hours and remain in groups,” Pushplata said.
20-30% revenue only
Forest department is barely able to earn 20 to 30 percent of the usual revenue in the sanctuary. There has been a significant decline in the number of tourists here in the last two months. The sanctuary is currently opening for just six hours from 10 am to 4 pm.