Leopard spotted on Infosys Mysuru campus: Employees to work from home on Dec 31; Trainees given a day off

Tech calls the big cat. (Representative image)

A leopard was spotted on the Infosys Mysuru campus, prompting the company to implement a work-from-home arrangement for employees on December 31.

"Dear Infoscion, a wild animal has been spotted on the Mysuru DC campus today. Efforts are underway to ensure campus safety in collaboration with the task force," the Infosys human resource department informed employees through an internal communication.

"You are requested to work from home today (December 31). The security team has been instructed not to permit anyone inside the campus."

No Infosys official was immediately available to comment on the development.

Forest department officials confirmed that a leopard was sighted on the 150-acre campus through CCTV footage. A task force has been deployed to track and capture the animal, which remained elusive when this story was filed.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), IB Prabhu Gowda, told Moneycontrol: "A leopard was spotted on a CCTV camera at around 2 AM on Tuesday. Our team reached the spot at around 4 AM. We have launched a combing operation to trace the leopard."

This is not the first time a leopard has been spotted on the software giant’s premises. In 2011, another leopard had strayed into the campus.

The Infosys campus, located near the Hebbal Industrial Area, is close to the reserve forest. The region, historically home to leopards, continues to witness occasional sightings. Officials suspect the leopard may have strayed from its habitat in the reserve forest while searching for food.

Trainees' Day Off
Around 4,000 trainees of the Bengaluru-based company who are currently stationed in the Infosys Global Education Centre in Mysuru have been asked to remain indoors today.

Consequently, the foundation program such as training, assessments, and induction, will remain shut. "The training schedule will be pushed by a day. Please be in your hostel rooms and utilise this day for self-study," read an internal communication addressed to Infosys trainees, reviewed by Moneycontrol.

Trainees have also been asked not to venture out on the campus and remain in their hostel rooms until further notice.

Trainees have also been told that the security team will restrict their movement until further communication.

(This is a developing story)