Daijiworld Media Network - Brahmavar

Brahmavar, Dec 17: A rare black panther, which had fallen into a well in Aroor village after snatching a chicken, was safely rescued by forest officials in a daring operation that left villagers relieved.

On Sunday night, the panther entered a well in the compound of Shankar Poojary of Addil after taking a chicken. Alarmed, the family immediately informed Panchayat president Gururaja Rao, who promptly alerted forest authorities. On Monday morning, a team arrived, lowered a cage into the well, lifted the panther, and released it into the Kudremukh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Speaking about the rescue, a forest official said, “Black panthers are common in the Western Ghats, but sightings in Udupi district are rare. The male panther rescued from the well is estimated to be around three years old.”

For the past four months, the panther had been roaming Aroor village, reportedly attacking domestic dogs, which had caused fear among residents. “We were all anxious for weeks, but seeing it rescued safely brought immense relief,” said a local villager.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of divisional forest officer Varijakshi, with deputy forest officer Waseem Shaikh and forest guards Ramesh, Srinivas, Ramachandra, and Praveen taking part.

The rescue not only ensured the safety of the rare animal but also highlighted the effective coordination between villagers and forest authorities, showcasing a successful human–wildlife intervention in coastal Karnataka.