Emergency search launched after leopard sighting near Bhubaneswar Airport

Bhubaneswar, Oct 26: Residents living near Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar experienced panic on Saturday following reports of a leopard sighting in the area. Employees at the airport claimed to have spotted the big cat near a dumping yard located within the airport's high-security zone, prompting them to raise the alarm. They also reported finding leopard pugmarks in the vicinity, which heightened concerns among local residents.

Upon receiving this information, a team from the Forest Department quickly arrived at the scene to investigate the situation. Equipped with nets and other necessary equipment, the local police and forest officials conducted a thorough search of the area to verify the claims.

This is not the first time wildlife has encroached upon the airport's vicinity; in 2019, a leopard was captured on the airport premises and subsequently relocated to the Chandaka forest. BPIA is a critical hub for air travel in Odisha, handling a significant number of flights and passengers daily. The incident underscores the need for vigilance regarding wildlife interactions in urban settings.