Kendrapada: A leopard has been seen roaming in the port city of Paradip.
First caught CCTV camera at the CISF office on Saturday.
His presence was confirmed by researcher Tiger Lak Singh on Sunday after he checked CCTV footage.
Until the 1950s, the city of port allegedly became a solid mangrove forest.
The forest in the paradip and the nearby Bhitarkanika National Park is the house of many leopards.
“In the 1960s the government dislaimed the large tract on the mangrove forest in the paradip to build the port and the consequences of leopards disappeared from the area.
Meanwhile, the population of leopards became extinct from BHITPARANSIA because of hunting.
We are happy that after more than five decades, leopard is seen in the paradip, “said Singh.
“Previously, we thought it was a fishing cat.
Forest officials have patrolled the area, but animals have not been traced.
This is a shy animal.
Maybe it’s hiding somewhere in the area,” said Ranjan Mishra, Kujang Forest officer.