Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 15: Mangaluru range forest officer, Prashanth Pai, said that four cages to trap the leopard that was seen moving about around the international airport here have been installed. Three cages have already been kept inside the airport compound, he stated.
Pai said that locals had noticed a leopard coming out of the runway on Friday November 12. "On Saturday we visited the airport with staff and checked the area. We have requested the officials to cover the drains and pipes which lead to outside the airport with wire meshes and to clear the trees and bushes that are located adjacent to the airport wall. We will furnish a report on these aspects on Monday," she clarified.
Bajpe being an area surrounded by forests, every week, the department has been receiving complaints of three to four dogs going missing. Therefore, two cages had been kept in the past but the leopard had not been found. As the runway area is desolate, the chance of the leopards hiding there are high. Therefore, three cages were kept inside," he explained.
In the meantime, on Saturday evening, a person saw a leopard moving about. The forest officials rushed there. Jayant Kondana, a building contractor, who was going in his scooter via Kumpala Saralaya Colony, saw a leopard cub jumping out of the bushes and crossing the road. Jayant, who was scared, fell down from his vehicle and suffered minor injuries. He conveyed this information to the department.
Two locals had informed the forest department about sighting the leopards in Kumpala Saralaya Colony and Pilar Palla area some days back. On November 4, the forest officials had scrutinised the area but they could not locate the animal. Now the leopard has been seen again. Kotekar deputy range forest officer, Mahabala and Konaje beat forest guard, Savita Gatti, visited the said colony. Mahabala said there is no clarity whether the animal sighted by the people was leopard or some other animal. He said that a cage will be kept on Monday in an effort to trap the leopard.