Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SD)

Kundapur, Feb 10: A leopard which fell into the well died due allegedly due to forest officials who arrived late, that too without any equipment to rescue the animal. The incident occurred on Saturday, February 10 at Shiroor Murkeina Bhandarthi near Mandarthi here.

It is suspected that the leopard, which was three years old, may have fallen into the well while chasing a dog or a deer at night. On Saturday morning, a person named Rama Naik heard some sounds from the well at around 5.30 am. When he flashed the torch into the well he saw the leopard and informed the forest department immediately.

Forest rangers arrive late at the scene

Forest rangers arrived an hour after receiving information about the leopard fighting for its life in the well. That too they came without any equipment required to bring up the leopard from the well. They reported the matter to their higher authorities. By the time the actual rescue operation began, it was too late as the leopard was fighting for its life for more than six hours and ultimately drowned in the presence of the forest officials.

Manjunath Naik, an expert diver, retrieved the leopard's carcase from the well. Post-mortem was later conducted at the the animal health centre at Bidkalkatte.

According to the locals, even if a strong wooden log had been held for the leopard to stay afloat, it could have been saved. But the forest officials came to the rescue operation without any equipment. Locals accused the forest officials of negligence and not being prepared for such mishaps.

Forest officials Santhosh, Harish, Veeranna, Rakesh and staff of the department along with Naveen Chandra, president, Billadi gram panchayat took part in the operation.

Frequent sighting of leopards in the area

According to the locals the frequency of sighting of leopards has increased in and around the vicinity of Shiroor probably due to the increase of forest animals including deer. Though the forest officials have kept snared to catch the leopards, they seem to be of no use.