Mysuru: The Forest Department personnel have been successful in catching an injured leopard at an agricultural field at Honnahalli village in the taluk on Monday.

One Nagaraju, son of Mahadevashetty of Honnahalli village, who saw the leopard sleeping in front of the house in the field, informed the matter to the villagers and also brought it to the notice of Forest officials.

By the time the Forest officials and the villagers reached the spot, the leopard had moved from the house and was found sleeping in the canal next to the field. Though the villagers began to shout and make noise, the leopard did not budge from the spot and continued to sleep in the canal. On observing the leopard closely, it was found that it had wounds near the neck. On seeing that the leopard was not reacting though the villagers kept a log next to it, they tied the legs of the leopard and tied the rope to the log.

Meanwhile, Chamarajanagar In-charge Range Forest Officer (RFO) Mahadevaiah, Forest Officers Suresh, Dorenayaka and Fairoz, who arrived at the spot, examined the injured leopard. They said that the leopard was aged above five years and may have got itself injured in a fight with another leopard. They further said that the injuries were old as it had got infected.

The injured leopard was treated by Veterinarian Dr. Nagaraju. Efforts would be made to shift the injured leopard to Mysuru Zoo for treatment, the Forest officials said.