Leopard terror: TTD bans sale of vegetables, fruits along footpath routes

Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has banned the sale of fruits and vegetables along the routes to the Lord Venkateswara temple in a bid to keep the wild animals at bay.

TTD, the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, imposed the restriction to restrain devotees from buying fruits and vegetables and feeding them to deer and monkeys. The reason is that it attracts wild beasts.

"Henceforth, the sale of fruits and vegetables will not be allowed as the pedestrian pilgrims are purchasing them and feeding the monkeys, deer, etc. This in turn is resulting in the intrusion of wild beasts which is posing a threat to the trekkers," said the TTD officials.

Meanwhile, the 100-plus footpath shopkeepers along the Alipiri route were instructed to keep their premises clean and dump the trash in dustbins by segregating them into dry and wet wastes.

Further, they have been directed to immediately inform the forest and TTD officials on sighting a wild beast while the temple will install closed circuit (cc) cameras along the footpath route.

In one week span, forest department could trap two leopards- male and female near Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple route, where the six-year-old was killed by the big cat. Currently, both the big cats in Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park. A team of doctors will take blood samples of the wild cat and check if it had consumed human flesh. They will take blood samples and examine the animal to find out whether it is the same animal that killed the girl. Based on the findings, a decision will be taken by the TTD on its release into the forests.

Other measures:

Parents trekking with children below 12 years will be only allowed from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tags are given to children to track them if missing.

The elderly persons will be allowed to trek only till 10 pm.

No feeding food for deer or any animals on the pedestrian routes.

Strict action will also be taken against the food vendors across the pedestrian stretch if they throw away leftovers in the forest area.

TTD to install 500 cameras across the pedestrian stretch, and drones will be used if necessary.

Display boards and videos on animal attack awareness will be set up at Gali Gopuram, 7th mile, and Alipiri areas.

Wildlife outposts, including doctors and animal trackers, will be deployed 24/7.

Focusing lights will be set up across the pedestrian stretch during the night.

Wooden sticks to the pilgrims to protect themselves.

Every group of 100 devotees will have a security guard.