The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Panther on prowl creates panic

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Thursday, Apr 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Panther on prowl creates panic

Staff Reporter

Forest officials take precautions to protect people, cattle

The panther had killed a cow and had attacked a goat
Forest officials ask tribals not to harm the animal

PHOTO: SINGAM VENKATA RAMANA

WORRISOME: Ramawath Ramakoti showing the hillock from where a panther reportedly came and took away his cow at Pedda thanda in Nalgonda district.

NALGONDA: A panther on the prowl under the Mudigonda gram panchayat in Deverakonda mandal has been giving sleepless nights to tribals in some hamlets for the last two days.

The big cat killed a cow owned by one Ramawath Ramakoti of Pedda thanda on Monday night.

It dragged the carcass near a hillock, situated 150 metres away from the spot and ate half of it.

Attacks

It had also attacked and chased a goat at Desya thanda the next morning. The goat, which managed to escape, died of injuries later.

District Forest Officer (Wildlife) A. Narasimha Murthy confirmed on Wednesday that it was a panther. “Going by the pug marks, we can say that a panther is on prowl. We have taken all precautionary measures to protect people and cattle from it,” he said.

Compensation

Compensation would be paid to the owner of the cow; the DFO said and asked the tribals not to harm the animal if they spot it.

“The panther is not straying into human habitats but people are entering the forest areas. We have noticed that the panther has been moving on the fringes of forest, where the tribals graze their cattle without minding the danger involved in it,” Mr. Murthy said.

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