Leopard Stirs Srisailam: Devotees Alerted After CCTV Captures Big Cat Near Temple

• A leopard was captured on CCTV roaming near a temple priest's house on the Patalaganga steps route in Srisailam at midnight.
• Frequent leopard sightings in Srisailam are linked to shrinking forest cover and prey scarcity, driving them towards human areas for food.
• Authorities have advised devotees and locals to exercise caution, avoid solitary night travel, and report any suspicious animal movements.
• Past incidents include a leopard carcass near Patalaganga (Oct 2025) and sightings on Srisailam Dam bridge and Tirupati's SV University campus.
• Experts urge the forest department to implement proactive measures and raise awareness to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

Why It Matters: Increasing leopard sightings in Srisailam highlight growing human-wildlife conflict due to habitat loss.