Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Feb 10: A leopard that has been frequenting Neeraja Colony and surrounding places within Bantra village near Kadaba in the taluk since sometime, suddenly appeared in front of a couple of villagers, dragged away a street dog into the nearby bushes, and ate it up. This incident happened in broad daylight on Tuesday February 9 morning.

This incident further gave rise to a sense of fright among the villagers, who are already in the grip of fear about the animal that has been making appearances all of a sudden in the region.

On Sunday, legs and abdomen region of a bovine calf that had been tethered near his house for grazing by Thimmappa from Neeraje Colony, had been found eaten up by unidentified animal. The calf, which was in serious condition, was brought home and treated, but it did not survive. It was widely believed that tiger had been roaming around the region in search of food.

On Tuesday morning, Hukra and Aithappa Naik, residents of the said colony, were present when the leopard suddenly appeared before them, pounced upon a street dog standing in a plot owned by a local named Choma, held it by its teeth, and vanished behind the bushes. Based on this incident, it is being guessed now that this leopard would have eaten the flesh of the calf on Sunday.

Forest officials visited the area and assessed the situation.