The AP forest department has decided to create 1,000 water holes in reserve forests to ensure that thirsty panthers don't stray into human habitations and get killed. Forest officials will be particularly focusing on forests with a high population of panthers located in the fringe areas of cities. They will also create artificial waterfalls in these areas and also in the elephant sanctuary in Kuppam. Panthers had strayed into Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Rajahmundry and the villages of Medak and Nizamabad districts this summer because of water scarcity. Some of them died in accidents while others were caught and killed by villagers. "We held a meeting with the conservators and decided to take steps to protect the panthers,' said the deputy conservator of forests (wildlife), Mr Vara Prasad. "We will create artificial water holes and will fill them using tankers till the summer season ends.' As per the statistics of the forest department, at least 30 big cats, a majority of them leopards, were killed in the state in the past three years. In April, three leopards were found dead in Sherkhan Palli in Hatnur mandal in Medak district. Villagers in Nizamabad in Gandhari mandal had also killed a leopard that strayed into their area.