The University of Peradeniya has urged students, staff and villagers to remain vigilant after several sightings of Sri Lankan leopards were reported on the university premises.
University officials said the areas around the Veterinary Teaching Farm and the Staff Development Centre in the Hanthana region have been identified as locations where the animals have been frequently spotted.
Meanwhile, Dhammika Perera, Head of the Department of Farm Animal Production and Health at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said research is being carried out with the assistance of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to monitor leopard activity in the area. Based on available data, he said there are around eight leopards in the area, including one female leopard with a cub.
He noted that female leopards with cubs often move closer to human settlements while searching for food, which may explain the increased sightings around the university premises.
Perera said that following discussions with the relevant department heads, several precautionary measures were introduced to protect animals kept at the university farm. These include the installation of a safety fence around vulnerable areas and the implementation of an alarm system equipped with motion sensors and sirens to alert staff if leopards approach the farm.
University sources said the situation has since temporarily subsided, with no new incidents reported recently, although a cow and a dog were found dead near Uda Peradeniya.
Last week, several leopard sightings were reported on campus, along with attacks on livestock at the Veterinary Teaching Farm. The university has advised members of the campus community to avoid walking alone, particularly during early morning, late evening or night hours, and to report any leopard sightings immediately to the university security division. (NewsWire)
