Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Nov 20: A leopard had got caught in a trap at Hegdeguli in Manchi village in the taluk on Friday night. The forest department staff from here, with the support of locals, rescued the animal.

The operation went on till late into Friday night. Assistant forest conservator Subrahmanya Rao, deputy forest conservator Dinesh, and chief forest conservator Prakash Natalkar, guided the operation. Bantwal range forest officer Rajesh Baligar said that further steps would be taken under the guidance of officials.

The leopard was trapped at a spot surrounded by houses. The officials came to know about the presence of the leopard at around 8 pm, and it took about four hours for the department to tranquilise the animal and take it away. The leopard weighs about 60 kg and it would be released after treatment, the range forest officer stated. The animal, after it was tranquilised, was brought to the range forest office.