Leopard enters house, trapped after four-hour operation

Feline bites villager, injures another at Kyathanahalli in H.D. Kote Taluk

Mysuru: Kyathanahalli village near Gaddige in H.D. Kote Taluk woke up to leopard attacks this morning where two villagers were attacked by the feline. While one villager was bit on his arm, the other villager sustained scratch marks on his right thigh.

The village is located near Hampapura Hobli and the leopard was spotted at around 7.30 am by villagers. Panicking, some of the villagers ran helter-skelter and some even attempted to chase the animal. In the process, the leopard pounced on 60-year-old Dasa Shetty and bit his left arm.

The feline next leaped on Ananda Murthy and its front paw hit his right thigh and the animal backed off hearing the screams of the villagers. Ananda Murthy sustained scratch marks. Seeing a group of villagers coming towards it, the feline entered the backyard of the house owned by Ninganna Swamy and took shelter inside a room where coconut frond, branches and firewood were stored.

Villagers Girish and Mahadev, who saw the dotted carnivore entering the room, alerted Ninganna Swamy’s family and they rushed out of the house that was built with mud and Mangaluru tiles. The room was locked preventing the animal from venturing out. The age of the leopard is estimated to be three to three and a half years.

The Forest Department was alerted and a team of officers including Range Forest Officer Madhu, Veterinarian Dr. D.N. Nagaraj arrived at the spot with a cage to trap the leopard. First, the house premises were covered with nets so that the feline cannot escape and later, Department sharp shooter Akram and Dr. Nagaraj climbed atop the house to tranquillise the leopard.

Hunting for the feline, officials realised that it had entered the bathroom of the house. Crackers were burst forcing the leopard to enter the hall of the house and come outside. This plan worked and Akram fired a tranquilliser shot and the feline was captured.

Department staff said that the animal had marks around its neck suspecting that it might have been caught in a snare that is used to trap wild boars. It also had wound marks all over its body.  Examining the leopard, Department staff said that the snare marks on the skin were deep and it had reached infection stage. The survival of the leopard is critical and it needs urgent medical intervention, said officers.

The feline was weak and was unable to hunt and had ventured into the village to hunt for easy prey, officers added. Villagers told Star of Mysore that it was the second incident of a leopard entering the village in search of food. They said two years back a leopard had fallen into a well in the village and it was rescued and released into the forests.

Kyathanahalli is located on the fringes of Nagarahole National Park and Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the village is prone to wild animal attacks, said villagers who demanded swift action from the Forest Department.