Two leopards keep Chittoor villages awake: no sleeping on terraces for three months

For generations, residents in parts of Chittoor rural mandal, Andhra Pradesh, have been used to sleeping under the open sky to escape sweltering nights. But for nearly three months, two elusive leopards have turned terraces, balconies and courtyards into fear zones, forcing residents indoors despite night temperatures hovering around 30°C.

The scare runs across a cluster of villages around Diguvamasapalle panchayat and into Thalambedu panchayat, from Thatimakula Pallim and Chettigaripalle through the Yanadi ST Colony to Bangareddypalle, a stretch where sleeping outdoors has been the rule from March to October. Residents, particularly in SC and ST colonies, say it is how they have always beaten the heat. Now, fear keeps them shut behind doors.

Forest officials use a drone to search for two leopards at Kothur village near Chittoor on the night of September 6, 2026, after a blacksmith said one of the animals leapt over him as he rode home.
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Special Arrangement

Forest officials say that the two leopards are survivors of a territorial fight involving three animals about four months ago. One was killed near Doddipalle, within Chittoor Corporation limits. The remaining two have since reportedly been sighted repeatedly around villages.

About three months ago, one of the animals allegedly killed a pet dog at Channamagudipalle. Stray dogs have also reportedly been killed at several locations in Chittoor rural and neighbouring GD Nellore mandals.

A frightening encounter reported at dusk on September 6 has only added to the fear. Siva Achari, 38, a blacksmith from Kothur, said he was returning from Chittoor on a motorcycle with his son when a leopard suddenly bounded across the road and over his head. Startled, he fell from the vehicle.

While some villagers initially wondered if he had mistaken a hyena or a monkey for a leopard, Achari maintained that it was indeed a leopard while recounting the incident. Village elders said that he developed a high fever later that night and remained unwell for two days.

A power outage on Wednesday night (September 9, 2026) added to the anxiety, with supply restored only around midnight. Residents also claimed linemen were reluctant to visit the affected areas at night amid fears of leopard encounters.

Senior BJP and farmer leader Kothur Babu said the matter had been brought to the attention of the police, forest officials and Chittoor MLA Gurajala Jagan Mohan.

Forest officials have surveyed forested stretches using drones and advised residents against unnecessary movement after dusk. Villagers, however, want the two leopards captured and relocated.