Odisha Forest dept denies leopard sightings near Bhubaneswar Airport

Bhubaneswar, Oct 27: The Forest Department on Sunday dismissed reports of leopard sightings in Bhubaneswar, asserting that there is no likelihood of a leopard being present in the state capital. This clarification followed media claims of a leopard sighting near the Airport dumping yard on the outskirts of the city.

In response to the reports, Forest Department officials deployed trap cameras to monitor the area and set up cages baited with chicken to catch the animal. However, no leopard appeared, leading forest officials to suspect that the sighted creature may have been a wild cat instead. Additionally, no pugmarks or other signs indicative of a leopard's presence were found in the vicinity.

Radhakanta Hota, the local range officer, urged the public not to trust unverified information circulating on social media, emphasizing that no evidence of a leopard has been observed. He confirmed that the trap cameras captured visuals of a wild cat, and the department has reached out to animal experts for further assessment. The officials remain vigilant and are committed to ensuring public safety, monitoring the situation closely to provide accurate updates to the community.