Wild cat mistaken for a leopard at Jayashankar Agricultural varsity
Hyderabad: The staff and students of the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) heaved a sigh of relief after the forest officials confirmed that no traces of leopard was found on the campus and the wild cat had likely been mistaken for a leopard.
However, CCTV monitoring would continue for a few more days as a precaution for the safety of the students, they said. After reports of potential presence of a leopard in the vicinity emerged, the forest officials installed multiple CCTV cameras across the campus.
On Monday at 3:32 am, footage captured a wild cat strolling through the area, the officials said. No signs of a leopard, such as pug marks or remains of prey, were found despite a thorough search of the campus, they added.
Earlier, the university officials clarified that no evidence of leopard movement had been found. The university’s security personnel, along with local police and forest department officials, conducted a thorough search of the campus on Sunday following the circulation of reports in media channels and on social media. Dr. Hussain, the university’s security officer, confirmed that after a four-hour search, no leopard tracks or signs were discovered.
The university’s press release further stated that while no traces of a leopard were found, monitoring of the campus continues. Trap cameras have been installed, and security personnel will be patrolling the area. Students are advised to take precautions and avoid roaming on the campus roads at night.
Despite the rumors, no evidence of leopard activity was found on CCTV footage or near waterlogged ponds. The university has assured the public that it is keeping a watchful eye on the situation and taking appropriate precautions.
A few months ago, a similar wild cat was mistakenly identified as a leopard created panic among residents at Miyapur. The forest officials confirmed that the animal was a wild cat after verifying its pug marks.
