Karnataka   

Concern over children’s safety

BANGALORE: Parents of students from Loyola School near Kallena Agrahara off Bannerghatta Main Road on Wednesday brought to the notice of the Forests Department officials their concerns over the reports of leopard sighting.

According to Father Prabhu of Mount St. Joseph institution that runs the school, parents were concerned about the safety of children studying in primary and secondary classes. “Though we have not sighted any leopard for the past three days, the parents are still worried,” he said. A leopard was last sighted near a cinema in Gottigere three days ago, he added.

Vanashree Vipin Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bannerghatta National Park, who heard the parents, assured that there was no need to panic. The Forests Department was taking steps to ensure that the leopard moved out to the nearby Kalkere forests. She asked children to move in groups particularly early in the mornings and evenings when leopard movement is usually seen. She asked parents not to chase or attack the leopard.

An adult female and two cubs were first spotted on the campus of Mount St. Joseph institution on September 14. Residents of Trinity Ashram, which adjoins the institution, had seen the wild cats. The Forests Department’s bid to trap the leopard family was unsuccessful.

Ms. Vanashree Vipin Singh said the department was studying why the leopards had moved away from the forest area, which was about two kilometres away from Kallena Agrahara. She and Sunil Tanwar, Indian Forest Service officer, were working on the issue. “We are cross-examining witnesses to understand more about the leopards’ movement,” she said. The animals’ movement will be mapped and the causes would be found, she said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

BMIC: apex court restrains Karnataka
Bank staff protest merger move
Bangalore to host helicopter conference
Promoting tourism
Goa Congress in a fix over selection of candidate
BJP campaign against SEZs in Goa
UNICEF team visits Belapu
Pakistani crew of Den Den may return home on Monday
Guessing game begins as the local bodies go to the polls
Lokayukta moots social auditing
Concern over children’s safety
Reservation sought for Dalit Christians
HAL, CAE sign pact on copter simulator training centre
Supercomputer arrives at IISc
Independent candidates likely to play a decisive role in municipal elections
Ramappa elected ZP president
Major political parties hopeful of victory
GP chiefs elected
Boost for tourism
Stage set for elections
Health centre to be upgraded
Art workshop

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu