Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur

Puttur, Apr 22: Excitement and anxiety prevailed at Koyla here on Wednesday April 22 as a leopard which strayed into the human habitat fell into an unused well while trying to prey on a fowl.

The leopard fell into a well belonging to Kamala, a resident of Koyla. It is said that the leopard strayed from Shantigodu reserve forest area and came into the vicinity at around 1.30 am.

Kamala and her family members, on hearing their dog barking in the night, woke up and went to check. At the same time, they saw a fowl that was in a cow shed nearby flying away in a bid to escape from the leopard. The leopard chased the fowl and caught, but in the process, fell into the well, it is learnt.

The family members then informed the neighbours, and throughout the night locals gathered in large numbers at the spot. In the morning, the local forest officials led by sub-divisional ACF Harish Gowda, Sullia ACF Dinesh Kumar and others came to the spot and after much efforts that lasted five long hours, with the help of the locals, managed to get the leopard out of the well using nets and bamboo sticks and by pouring water into the dry well. However, their attempts to catch the leopard in a cage went in vain as it escaped from the net and ran into the forest.

APMC director Seenappa Gowda who was angry at this took the forest officials to task for letting the leopard escape, saying that as the leopard is on the loose, it would create fear among the people of the vicinity. "Who will be responsible for this?" he said. This led to verbal clashes. The Kadaba police who were at the spot managed to bring the situation under control.

Zone forest officer Shridhar said that the leopard had just lost its way and had not created any trouble to anyone, hence no one needs to fear. "If the leopard creates any problem for people, we will take immediate measures to catch it," he said.

Speaking to reporters later, ACF Harish Gowda said that the leopard was about five years old and female. "It has not given any trouble to anyone in this area. We have not received any complaint. If the leopard is caught in future, it will be definitely released into a sanctuary by the forest department," he assured.