Kundapur: Leopard in a Tight 'Spot' Rescued by Forest Officials

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 30: The forest officials succeeded in rescuing a male leopard, which had strayed into human habitat from forest and got entangled in an animal trap laid out at Halageri-Byatrahaklu, Nagur near Byndoor in the taluk, on Thursday December 29.

Some women, who were collecting dry leaves in a cashew plantation in Halageri, found the leopard, which was struggling to free itself from the snare.

The leopard they sighted was one and half metres in length and two feet in height. When the locals tried to help it out, it got frightened and climbed up a tree. Thereafter, information was conveyed to the forest officials.

Byndoor range forest officer, Vinay Kumar, and his staff reached the site with net, cage etc, but did not succeed in coaxing the animal to enter the cage. As trying further would have frightened the animal, which was thought to be a dangerous proposition for both the animal and the locals, the officials decided to wait for anesthetists from Pilikula, Mangalore.

The operation to rescue the animal got delayed, as anesthetists arrived only at about 5 pm, after which they used drugs to make the animal unconscious. The animal was then placed in a cage and taken to Pilikula Nisargadhama. It is gathered that the animal is healthy now.