Police resort to mild lathi charge to disperse large crowd, leopardess released into Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Mandya: A leopardess, which was caught in a jaw trap, laid by poachers to trap wild boars at a sugarcane field on the outskirts of Hampapura in the taluk, was rescued by the Forest Department in a three hour-long operation yesterday.

The leopardess, aged about three years, had entered the sugarcane field of one Jayaswamy in search of food on Sunday night and when it stepped on the jaw trap it got trapped.

Passersby, who heard the growls coming from the sugarcane field, ventured near the spot from where the sound was coming and were shocked to see a leopardess stuck in a jaw trap. They immediately informed the villagers and soon villagers from surrounding villages began to come to the spot in large numbers.

Meanwhile, Forest Department personnel, who rushed to the spot along with Keragodu Police, inspected the place and the Police had to resort to mild lathi charge to disperse the large crowd as it was hampering the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the villagers took to task the Forest officials for delaying the rescue operation. The Forest staff told the villagers that they need the permission from their higher authorities to catch the leopardess resulting in the villagers expressing their anger.

Later, at about 2 pm, Veterinarian Dr. Nagaraju and sharp shooter Akram came to the spot from Mysuru and tranquillised the leopardess.

The leopardess was later examined by the Veterinarians and when the animal was found stable, it was released into Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary at about 8.30 pm yesterday. Mandya Range Forest Officer (RFO) said that a case has been registered for attempting to poach wild animals.

Forest Officials Byrareddy, Maddur RFO Shashidhar and other officials visited the spot.

Dy.SP Gangadhar, Keragodu Sub-Inspector and staff managed to control the large crowd, which had assembled to have a glimpse of the leopardess.