By Arré Bench May. 14, 2020
While most news of animals reclaiming cities have been embraced with cheer, the recent spotting of two wild cats in Hyderabad has caused much distress and fear.
Since the coronavirus pandemic has forced countries into a lockdown, we’ve read the “nature is reclaiming its space” headline many times over. From Ganga water being called fit for drinking for the first time in decades at Haridwar, to the return of the critically endangered Gangetic Dolphins in Kolkata ghats, each phenomena has been embraced with cheer.
However, the recent spotting of two wild cats in Hyderabad has caused much distress and fear.
On late Wednesday night, May 13, a civet cat was spotted on the ramparts of Noorani Masjid at Fateh Darwaza of Golconda Fort. The sighting of the cat triggered the rumors of a black panther in the vicinity, causing anxiety among the residents in the area who were already under lockdown.
Not black panther, but a civet cat, clarifies forest dept after sighting of the black cat spread panic in Golconda area last night. It has been rescued and shifted to the Nehru Zoo park. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/eCKnEHqpui
— Rahul V Pisharody (@rahulvpisharody) May 14, 2020
The fear of the unexpected visitor had the residents up the whole night. Relief came early Thursday morning when a team of forest officials finally rescued the cat before shifting it to the Nehru Zoological Park. It remains unknown where the cat, identified as the Asian palm civet, came from and how it managed to get inside the area.
data-conversation=”none”>
Good Morning Sir,SHO Golconda replied that
It is not panther and it is civet cat .
It was caught with the co ordination of Forest team and zoo staff and handed over to zoo park for safe custody. pic.twitter.com/UHbwnMK93y— Hyderabad City Police (@hydcitypolice) May 14, 2020
However, there was no rest for the officials at work. Only hours later, news of a leopard being spotted on the underpass road of Katedan bridge at Mailardevpally surfaced.
The Civet cat has been located and rescued from Noorani Masjid in Golconda of #Hyderabad. Minutes after the Anti- poaching sqaud rescued the Civet cat, they received another distress call from #Mailardevpally about a leopard spotted on the main road. pic.twitter.com/xcVYgAKu99
— @CoreenaSuares (@CoreenaSuares2) May 14, 2020
The leopard, believed to be injured, stayed resting on the road for close to an hour-and-a-half as motorists and locals around panicked at the sighting of the wild cat.
A leopard was seen resting at Katedan underbridge at Mailardevpally, Rajendranagar in Hyderabad. Source:Forestdept @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/WlGsB4shl3
— Rahul V Pisharody (@rahulvpisharody) May 14, 2020
However, before it could be tranquilised by the forest officials and the rescue team from Nehru Zoological Park, the leopard escaped to a 100-acre agricultural farm on the Shamshabad route. The area was said to be secured by the police and forest officials, along with the help of the rescue teams, attempting to capture the big cat. Drone and trap cameras too are being used to trace its location, according to Financial Express.
While there have been reports saying that a person was attacked by the leopard and was admitted to a hospital to treat his mild injuries, forest department officials have denied it. At present, the area has been sealed by police and stopped the vehicular movement around.
Multiple netizens have expressed their shared concern about the leopard and its safety.
Save the poor thing, rescue, rehabilitate….
— Major Goebbels Arya (Retd) (@AryaGoebbels) May 14, 2020
Did they rescue the leopard… It shldnt harm anyone or vice Versa.
— Sudha (@Sudhabalakumar) May 14, 2020
These incidents have also served as a reminder of the panic that can ensue no thanks to fake news that wasn’t fact checked.
No, these are not the pictures of Civet cat at Masjid E Noorani of Golconda. Locals shared old pictures of black panther as Civet cat that was rescued from a masjid in #Hyderabadhttps://t.co/btZ8AP7Dxx
— syed Irfan (@SyedIrf30036711) May 14, 2020
Comments