Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Nov 8: A leopard believed to have fallen into a government well at Kavrady near Kandloor on the night of Saturday November 5, could not be made to climb up even Monday night despite efforts by forest officers and villagers. But ultimately it was caged on Tuesday November 8, with difficulty.

Local people who brought cattle for grazing had heard noises from the well. They found a leopard when they peeped into the well. The grama panchayat and forest officials were then informed.

Though the leopard did not die as it got stuck in the small ring in the well, it had become weak without food for three days. The forest officials lowered branches of a tree into the well to help it climb up, but it did not come up.

As the animal remained in the well on Tuesday morning also, fire brigade staff arrived and a well-known diving expert Manjunath Naik was called. Forest officials lowered a cage into the well. As the leopard refused to enter the cage, it lost its balance and fell into the water. The cage was lowered immediately into the water and the leopard entered it. Manjunath Naik immediately closed the door of the cage.

Forest officers Gururaj and Sharath said that the leopard will be taken to a sanctuary.