On Friday, a three-year-old male leopard trapped in an open well was found in the heart-stopping saga that has affected the population of Singarajipura village, located under Channapatna taluk. The disaster happened in a farm owned by a nearby village man named Puttaswamy, situated on the outskirts of the village, close to the Tenginakallu forest.
Small farmers who came early to pump water for their crops were dismayed by deep, echoing roars issuing from the well. On closer inspection, they found the leopard desperately clinging to its feet and scrabbling for refuge in the slick stone walls of the deep well.
The Hunt That Went Wrong
Several local residents and forest officials said that the leopard had been coming into the village regularly for weeks from the Tenginakallu forest range nearby. It began to attack livestock including dogs and poultry, prompting the community to develop a fear-based atmosphere, it was said.
The big cat reportedly came to the farm late Thursday night, reportedly chasing a dog or a chicken. The leopard plunged into the water in the dark of night, where it failed to see the open well. However, with its agility, the depth of the well, the lack of grip on the walls, the animal was unable to pull itself free.
Large Rescue Operations Dispatched
As word of the trapped leopard reached the people crowd around the farm, Ramanagara Forest Department sealed off the whole grounds area to prevent the animal from becoming even more distressed. A specialized rescue team of Bannerghatta Biological Park has been sent to work on the spot because the situation is complex and dangerous.
The officials have a staged rescue plan in mind:
- Sedation: From atop the well, a trained veterinary team will provide a tranquilizer (anesthesia) to the leopard.
- The Lift: After safely sedating the animal, rescuers will descend into the well, using a cage or a special net to extract the 3-year-old male to safety.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Rising
This episode reflects growing human-wildlife conflict in the Ramanagara district. As forest cover contracts and natural prey become scarce, leopards are increasingly entering human settlements in search of easy domestic food. The forest officials have since told villagers that once the leopard is saved, and checked for any injuries sustained during the fall, it will be translocated into a deeper forest area very far away from human habitation.
