Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Feb 18: A leopard was spotted in Kotepura and has caused widespread panic among localities. The leopard was trying to take a dog on Monday night and the person who chased it has suffered leg injury. Forest department has kept three cages at the spot to trap it.

Several dogs have disappeared from Kotepura in the last few days. When the leopard was trying to take away a dog at around 7.30 pm, Irfan, a local person, chased it away.

The leopard escaped but Irfan suffered injuries on his leg.

Possibilities of having come during floods

It is possible that leopard cubs came to Kotepura during floods that occurred eight months ago. The leopards stay in forest areas near the banks of Netravati River and wander about in Kotepura vicinity during nights in search of food.

Local people had informed about it to the concerned department, which had ruled out such a possibility due to lack of clues. However, the animal has increased its visits which are captured in the CCTV of a local mosque. Saumya, a staff of forest department is stationed in Kotepura since the last four days. Chicken and dogs are tied in three cages to attract the leopard.

Anxious atmosphere after night

The leopard has made appearances in Kodi, Kotepura and Senerebail after 9 pm every night. It has already eaten up several dogs. It has also come to house yards. Its movements are captured on CCTV cameras fixed in houses. Akram Hussain, a local has urged the forest department, district administration and municipal council to take urgent action.

The forest department has identified the foot-marks of the Leopard that are kept in cages.

Irfan, who was injured while chasing the Leopard, said that children go to Madrasa in the morning and the evening. “The leopard looked like a Persian cat six months ago. Nobody believed when I said I spotted a leopard. I have seen a two feet long leopard yesterday. I am injured when I chased it to save a dog,” he said.

Local people had earlier claimed that miscreants are dyeing dogs to create fear. A dog was caught in the cage on Monday. It was released on Monday. A child was playing in the vicinity just a few seconds before the leopard arrived. This has been captured on CCTV. As the forest department did not get a dog to keep in the cage, a municipal council member gave his pet dog.