Mysore/Mysuru: A leopard, which had created panic among the villagers of Kurubalanahundi village and surrounding places in the taluk, has been trapped in a cage placed by the Forest Department. The leopard walked into the cage and was trapped inside yesterday morning.

The leopard, which was active in the region, was creating panic among the villagers by raiding villages and killing cattle since about two months. It had killed many cattle heads, six goats, many pet dogs and had also injured a calf which later succumbed to injuries.

Following several complaints from villagers, the Forest Department had conducted inspections and had placed two cages to trap the leopard and on Friday morning, the leopard walked into the cage placed in the field of one Raju in Kurubalanahundi with a dog inside the cage as a bait and was trapped. The leopard is said to be four-year-old.

The villagers, who saw the leopard trapped, informed the Forest Department personnel, following which Range Forest Officer (RFO) S. Girish, Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Umesh, Guards Mahadevu, Lokesh, Naveen, Ravi and Mahesh rushed to the spot and shifted the cage along with the leopard from the spot. On instructions from the higher officials, the leopard was released into Moolehole Range in Bandipur Tiger Reserve.