The Gujarat Forest Department launched a search operation after a leopard was spotted inside a residential society in Goma, south of Ahmedabad, in the early hours of Monday.
Two people who saw the animal alerted their neighbors, and residents subsequently checked surveillance cameras in their community and confirmed the sighting. The animal was captured on a CCTV camera at around 2 am near the entrance of Charandeep Society on Goma VIP Road in Ahmedabad, officials said.
The forest department was informed early on Monday morning, and a video of the leopard moving through residential buildings has since been shared on social media.
Forest officials said they verified the footage after examining the site and found physical evidence confirming the presence of the tiger. The animal is believed to have lifted a chicken from a nearby poultry unit and partially ate it before spending approximately 10 minutes in the parking area and then jumping back out, officials said.
K said. “We found feathers in the parking lot and pug marks all over the area, including on the compound wall,” said Ahmedabad Chief Conservator of Forests Ramesh.
Forest personnel have been deployed to track the animal, while three cages have been installed at locations where officials believe it is likely to move.
“Cheetahs, like lions and tigers, are largely nocturnal. The chances of catching them increase after sunset. We have placed our cages in the best possible locations,” Ramesh said.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with the forest department and avoid gathering in places where the animal could be seen. He added: “The tiger will not enter the cage if there is noise around it. If people cooperate, the chances of catching it safely increase.”
He added, “Let us not forget that 10 years ago Ahmedabad did not exist. It was agricultural land. Since then the city has expanded in that area. With the emergence of housing societies, CCTV cameras have come up around us, and we have come to know about it. Earlier also, they might have been venturing into those areas.”
Officials said their immediate priority was to safely capture the animal and release it into a suitable forest habitat.
“Our aim is that humans and carnivores should not live together in this kind of situation. We are trying to capture the animal and release it in a safe forest area,” Ramesh said.
No injuries or attacks were reported as of Monday evening. Forest officials said the search operation will continue until the leopard is captured and transported safely.
According to the latest census conducted by the state-level forest department in 2023, the number of leopards in Gujarat stood at 2,274, an increase of 63% from 1,395 in 2016. The census also recorded the first-ever sighting of leopards within Ahmedabad city limits.
