Leopard Sighting on Tirumala Footpath Sparks Panic

TIRUPATI: A leopard sighting on the Srivari Mettu trail sparked panic among devotees on Friday morning after the animal was spotted crossing the road near the 150th step of the Srinivasa Mangapuram to Tirumala route.

According to sources, fans screamed when they saw the leopard crossing the walking path. Sulabh sanitation workers immediately alerted the forest department, following which forest officials and security personnel rushed to the site and confirmed the evidence of leopard movement.

Forest and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials temporarily stopped the devotees at the starting point and near the 800th step as a precautionary measure. Pilgrims were then allowed to continue their journey in groups of 100-150 people, accompanied by staff to ensure safety.

Forest officials described the leopard’s movement as part of its natural range, which overlaps with areas inhabited by prey species along the route, and said there was no imminent threat. Patrols and camera trap surveillance have been intensified to monitor their activities.

TTD officials urged devotees to be careful, travel in groups and keep children close to them while using the walkway.

Sighting of leopards near Tirumala trails is a matter of constant concern. The forest department had earlier identified around 40 sensitive spots along the routes prone to wildlife movement. Leopards are also frequently seen on the campuses of Sri Venkateswara, Agricultural and Veterinary universities.

Special teams consisting of the forestry directorate, SV Zoo Park and TTD surveillance are constantly monitoring the region. “The teams have been deployed from mile 7 of Alipiri to Tirupati base stations, equipped with live, thermal and solar-powered cameras. Any animal movement near devotees triggers instant alerts through walkie-talkies,” a senior official said.

Two special monitoring stations have also been set up to monitor the movements of leopards, bears and elephants using AI-powered surveillance and solar-powered camera traps.