Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 8: A leopard which unexpectedly appeared in the residence of Jayalaxmi Hamsaraj Sanil, vice-president of Alevoor gram panchayat, at Kemtoor scared the locals. 

Alerted by incessant barking by the dog in the early hours of Tuesday August 7, Jayalaxmi's husband Hamsaraj, switched the lights on. He found to his shock that a leopard had made itself comfortable in the bathroom of his house.

In order to ensure that the animal did not turn restless, he stealthily approached the door of the bathroom from behind, and bolted it.

Immediately, the locals conveyed information to the forest department at about 4 am. Forest officials arrived at the spot at 6.30 am. Local range forest officer, Clifford Lobo, arrived with four staff of the department and a cage. The staff got the animal to enter the cage and took it away. The leopard is said to be two years old.

Panchayat member, Krishna Jathanna, locals, Ashish Shetty, Prasanna Shetty, Dinesh Shetty, Jayaram Shetty, Ashok Shetty, Sanjeev Shetty and several other locals extended support to the forest staff in their task.