A leopard sighting at a farm in Soladevanahalli, Nelamangala taluk, on the outskirts of northwest Bengaluru has prompted the forest department to deploy trap cages, intensify patrols and warn residents against approaching vulnerable areas alone.
The full-grown leopard was captured on CCTV moving through a farm belonging to resident Basavaraju on Monday. The animal was seen drinking water on the property before disappearing into the surrounding area, according to the report by the Times of India.
Forest officials said specialised trap cages with live bait would be installed at strategic locations near Soladevanahalli and nearby orchards. The operation is intended to capture the leopard safely while reducing the risk of a direct encounter with residents and farm workers.
Range forest officer teams have also increased patrols in areas considered vulnerable to leopard movement. The intensified monitoring follows the animal’s appearance on the farm and is focused on tracking its movement around Soladevanahalli and adjoining orchard areas.
The incident highlights the public-safety challenge faced by settlements and agricultural properties on Bengaluru’s expanding outskirts, where residents may encounter wildlife in farms, orchards and other open areas. In this case, the animal was recorded close to a property where people and livestock may be present, although the report did not mention any attack or injury.
Forest officials have advised residents to secure their livestock and avoid walking alone near unlit farm areas during dusk and dawn. They have also asked people to remain alert and report leopard sightings immediately to the forest department’s control room rather than attempting to track, approach or capture the animal themselves.
The department’s immediate response is centred on surveillance, patrols and the placement of live-baited trap cages. Officials have not stated how long the operation will continue or whether the leopard has been located again after leaving the farm. Residents in Soladevanahalli and surrounding orchards have been asked to follow the safety instructions while forest teams monitor the area.
