A youth sustained injuries after a leopard attacked him near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi in Vijayanagara district on Friday night. The incident occurred at Kaddi Rampura, a village close to the historic site.
Details of the Incident
The victim, identified as Karapudi Raja, a resident of Kaddi Rampura, had gone to his agricultural field to water crops when the leopard reportedly attacked him. He suffered severe injuries to his leg and is currently undergoing treatment at the district government hospital.
Forest Department Response
Forest officials confirmed that a leopard was spotted roaming in the New Hampi area two days ago, with its movement captured on a CCTV camera installed at a house. However, they have not yet confirmed whether the same animal was involved in the latest attack.
Range Forest Officer Kaushik Dalavai stated, 'We cannot immediately confirm whether the attack was carried out by the leopard seen in New Hampi or by another leopard. A cage has been placed to capture the animal.'
Forest department personnel are monitoring the area and have initiated efforts to trap the leopard, as concern grows among residents of villages surrounding Hampi.
Recurring Leopard Sightings
Since 2021, leopard sightings have been repeatedly reported around Hampi and its fringe villages, including agricultural fields and movement corridors linking rocky hills with human settlements. In 2023 and 2024, leopards were spotted near residential and tourist areas, including the surroundings of Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill, and Janata Plot. Multiple CCTV captures documented their movement along habitation fringes.
In 2025, continued leopard movement into human-inhabited areas has been reported, prompting intensified monitoring and cage-trapping efforts by the forest department in identified corridors around Hampi.
