H.D. Kote: A camera trap, which was installed by the Forest Department in Hosaholalu village at Antharasanthe Forest Zone in Nagarahole Reserve Forest, has captured the images of a leopard feeding on an animal killed by the tiger on Sunday.

But bus passengers saw the tiger crossing Manandavadi Road in the vicinity yesterday afternoon and have informed the Forest Department personnel who immediately swung into action to capture the elusive tiger which had killed cattle belonging to the villagers.

It may be recalled that the Forest staff had installed camera traps at various points after villagers complained of a tiger prowling in the vicinity. A camera trap was also installed near the carcass of a dead animal which was killed by the tiger as the tiger would come back to its kill to devour it but the camera has captured the image of a leopard moving around the dead animal and also eating it on Sunday night.

The Forest staff on Sunday morning had also carried out a combing operation to trace the elusive tiger with the help of Dasara elephants Drona, Arjuna, Sarala and Nanjunda, which were brought from Balle and Mathigodu Elephant Camps.

During the combing operation, the Forest personnel found a few pug marks of the tiger and also found the carcass of a cow which was killed by the tiger. As the tiger would come back to consume the kill later, the Forest staff had installed a camera trap to capture the image of the tiger but the camera trap has captured the images of a leopard instead.

Dasara elephants were retained by the Forest staff and the combing operation to trace and capture the tiger continued.

Following the sighting of the tiger crossing the road, the Forest staff have begun the combing operation to tranquillise the tiger, said ACF K.K. Poovaiah, who is leading the combing operation.