The Forest authorities on Monday set up two cage traps to capture the leopards that of late have been giving sleepless nights to both the locals and the pilgrims visiting the sacred temple of Lord Venkateswara.
According to sources, while one trap has been set up in the vicinity of the Pachikalava Gangamma temple, the other has been primed at the east Balaji Nagar frequented by the big cats.
Though sighting of leopards is not an exceptional phenomenon as Tirumala is enveloped by thick Seshachalam forests on all sides, the steady increase in the instances of their straying into human habitats, including guest houses, and the footpath has given the authorities some anxious moments.
The officials, who have collected ‘pug marks’ on different occasions, suspect that more than two leopards are on the prowl. It is not immediately known whether any bait to capture the big cats is being used or not.
The authorities embarked on a similar exercise in 2010 when the leopard menace increased along the Tirumala footpath.
