Forest Dept Debunk Leopard Sighting Claims Near Karnavati Club in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Forest Department launched a search operation after fresh reports of a leopard sighting in Ahmedabad. The latest claim came from the stretch between Karnavati Club and S.P. Ring Road, where an employee of a roadside café said he spotted a leopard in the early hours of the morning. However, the forest department has clarified that the footprints found at the site do not belong to a leopard.

Sharing details, forest officials said they inspected and scanned the area after receiving the alert. During the inspection, they found that the footprints did not match those of a leopard.

“The footprints cannot be considered those of a leopard. In a leopard’s pugmarks, the claws are generally not visible as they remain retracted. However, the marks found at the site clearly showed claw impressions, indicating they are most likely those of a dog,” a forest department official said.

The department added that it had received reports of leopard sightings from four locations in the city, but evidence confirming the presence of a leopard was found at only one of those sites.

The café employee, who works on the road connecting Karnavati Club and S.P. Ring Road, claimed he saw a leopard sitting in an open area behind the café at around 4 am.

According to him, he immediately dialled the emergency helpline 112 but did not receive a response. He then informed the café manager, following which the forest department and police were alerted and reached the spot.

A cage was installed at the site after the sighting was reported. However, it was later removed after the forest department’s inspection confirmed there was no evidence of a leopard’s presence. Officials said the footprints found at the location were not those of a leopard, ruling out the presence of the big cat at the site. DeshGujarat