Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Jul 18: Two cows and two calves lost their lives due to attack by leopard. The attack happened at Bangerapadavu in Niddodi villalge within Kallamundkur gram panchayat limits, and the incident came to light on Monday July 17.

All the cattle which were killed by the predator belonged to Ramappa Gowda, a resident of Bangerapadavu. As was his routine, Ramappa Gowda had left his cattle to graze in a hillock near his home on Sunday. The cattle, which used to return home in the evening, did not come back on Sunday.

After undertaking detailed search on Monday, abdomen portion of a cow was found inside a rubber plantation belonging to Mulky Yadunarayana Shetty at Bontalke, Bangerapadavu. A half-consumed body of a milching cow was also found nearby. The corpse of another cow that was pregnant was recovered at another spot. This cow had injury marks on its neck. The body of another calf accompanying the second cow has not been found.

Local range forest officer, Prakash Poojary, Kinnigoli unit deputy range forest officer, Keerti Mathew, and forest guard, Shankar, visited the spot and noted down the details. Gram panchayat member, Joachim Correa, Rama Gowda, and locals, Purushotham Gowda, Subhash, and others were present.

In the past too several cows were devoured by leopards in Kallamundkur and Tenkamijar gram panchayat limits, and efforts of forest department officials to trap the leopards had failed. The recurring problem of leopard attack has come as a bolt from the blue for the villagers, who are losing heavily.