Pic: Yashodhara Bangera

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: A leopard has been sighted by villagers since the last four to five days in Kallabettu-Karinje area falling within the Moodbidri municipal limits. Forest officials here, after confirming that leopard is really roaming around the area, have installed a trap and a trapping camera.

A motor bike rider had seen a leopard walking away by the roadside at Bangalapadavu in Kallabettu village five days back. Two days later, another villager had seen leopard in a thicket at Golla in the same village. This sighting was also reported to forest officials. The leopard thereafter had tried to attack a cow tethered inside the cattle shed belonging to Bhaskar Shetty at Gandottu in Karinje. As the dog started barking, family members came out, at which the leopard ran away. Out of several cows inside the shed, one had suffered scratch wounds in this attack.

On Tuesday, the forest officials installed a trap at Gandottu in Karinje. On Thursday, the leopard was seen by a local again. Thereafter, staff led by range forest officer, G D Dinesh, and deputy range forest officer, Anil, went to the spot and fitted trapping camera.