Mysore/Mysuru: An eight-year-old leopardess has been trapped in a cage placed by the Forest Department at an agricultural field in Bommanahalli village, T. Narasipur taluk, in the district on Oct. 28 night.

As the leopardess had lost its ability to hunt, it was decided to shift the big wild cat to the Rehabilitation Centre at Koorgalli in Mysuru.

The leopardess was found moving near houses at Bommanahalli and surrounding places since two months, preying on livestock following which the villagers had lodged a complaint with the Forest Department.

Though cages were placed at various places to trap it, the leopardess was not trapped. But on Oct. 28 night, the leopardess walked into the cage placed in the field at Bommanahalli and got trapped.

On examining the wild cat, it came to be known that four of its canines and three teeth were completely worn out and hence had lost its ability to hunt and used to prey on dogs, sheep and cows in villages.

The leopardess was finally shifted to the Mysuru Zoo’s Rehabilitation Centre at Koorgalli.

Meanwhile, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Dr. Basavaraju said that following complaints from villagers, the issue was taken seriously and cages to trap the leopardess were placed at various spots.

Operation to trap the leopardess was also conducted and the wild cat walked into the cage on Oct. 28 night and got trapped.

When the leopardess was examined, its teeth were worn out which made it difficult for the wild cat to hunt. Hence, it used to prey on dogs and other domesticated animals, the DCF said and added that as the leopardess would again raid villages and kill livestock if it was released back to the forest, it was shifted to the Rehabilitation Centre.