PONDA: Panic gripped Ponda after a leopard was repeatedly spotted prowling residential areas. Locals say that the leopard was seen moving around freely in Borim on Saturday.
Mhalshe residents in Curti Khandepar stated that they lived in fear ever since they saw the big cat attacking a goat in the vicinity.
The Zhore family which is engaged in the business of goat rearing expressed concern over the incident and added that they feared for their lives and that of their animals after the incident.
Earlier, a leopard was spotted was at Savoi Verem, Mangueshi, Kavlem, Dharbandora, and Borim and the locals have now urged the forest department to trap the wild cat at the earliest.The forest department has now installed a cage to trap the big cat.
It may be recalled that a few months ago, a leopard which was in residential area at Savoi Verem had climbed coconut tree after it was chased by dogs. Later the feline was rescued by the forest department personnel with the help of locals.Thereafter another leopard snared to death by the roadside at Mangueshi.
Another leopard had entered a house at Kavlem, killed and feasted on two dogs which were asleep in the verandah. The footage of the leopard was captured on CCTV camera. A black panther was captured on CCTV in residential area recently at Dharbandora Taluka too.
Sanket Narvekar said that due to destruction of hills and natural cover for constructions, the animals have lost their natural habitat. “The recent forest fires in Goa has also caused great harm to animals, reptiles and birds. Leopards now eat dogs and pose a great risk to human beings. The Government should protect trees and hills from destruction,” said Narvekar.
Prasad Naik from Marcaim said since the past few years due to the destruction of hills and forests, wild animals are leaving their natural habitat and come down to the villages in search of food. He said authorities should be blamed for this since they have failed to protect the forests and hills which are a natural shelter and source of food for wild animals.
