Activists on leopard awareness drive

Over 1,000 students and teachers attended the awareness session on Monday and Tuesday. The team will now conduct an awareness programme for residential societies in the areas.

“I think these awareness programmes were rightly timed as parents and children were anxious after leopard sightings triggered panic in the area. Some of the students and parents also watched CCTV footage where a leopard was seen on the premises of society. Some of them even saw blood of the dog killed by the leopard. So,the awareness sessions were helpful to help them cope with the situation,” said Neelu Lamba,principal of Hiranandani Foundation School.

The students were addressed by Vidya Venkatesh and Sonu Singh,volunteers of MfSGNP,who briefed them on the behaviour of leopards and how to avoid any conflict with these animals.

The volunteers requested the children to share their experiences at the workshop with their families. Children were advised to be accompanied by an adult if they were going out late in the evening. Floodlights should be installed in the premises of societies and school,the volunteers insisted .

Meanwhile,forest department officials stressed on the importance of the protection of leopards.

After the leopard sightings triggered panic,some residents had suggested deployment of armed commandos to boost security.

“We are trying to reach out to the people. Killing or capturing the animal will only multiply problems. We are also going to societies,which invite us to conduct awareness programmes. We are keen on putting up posters and sharing information with locals,” said Vidya Venkatesh,volunteer of MfSGNP.