TTD plans stronger safeguards for pilgrims amid leopard threat
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is implementing new wildlife management strategies to protect pilgrims from leopard threats on forest footpaths. Measures include an emergency response team, improved surveillance, and better waste management to reduce animal attraction.
Why it matters
Ensuring the safety of thousands of daily pilgrims in a high-risk wildlife zone is a critical administrative and public safety challenge.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has proposed an integrated wildlife management and emergency response mechanism to enhance the safety of pilgrims trekking to the hill shrine through the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu footpaths, following recurring leopard movement in the Tirumala forests.
Chairing a review meeting with TTD and Forest Department officials on Saturday, TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiyya Chowdary directed all departments to accord the highest priority to the safety of pedestrian pilgrims and evolve a coordinated strategy to minimise wildlife-related risks.
Among the proposals is the constitution of a specialised Emergency Response Team comprising a veterinary doctor, forest personnel and trained staff equipped with dedicated vehicles, communication devices and rescue equipment to respond to wildlife-related incidents within five to ten minutes.
Surveillance will be intensified in stretches where leopard movement has been reported, while leopards captured in cages will be relocated to distant protected forest areas.
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