A leopard that created panic after entering a house with a goat in Bandigowdanapalya village near Huliyurdurga in Kunigal taluk was caught by Forest Department officials after an operation lasting six hours on Monday night. The incident took place at the residence of Chikka Mariyappa, a villager, around 9 pm on Monday.
According to villagers, a big cat entered the house while carrying a goat and family members panicked upon seeing it. After getting information from villagers, forest officials rushed there and started an operation to catch the animal safely.
Residents said leopard sightings had been reported in and around Bandigowdanapalya village for nearly a month now. Villagers said the animal had been spotted frequently in the surrounding areas as well and may have entered the village at night in search of food. The latest incident created fear among residents (those living close to agricultural fields and places where livestock is kept). A leopard entering a residential building raised concerns about the safety of people and domestic animals in the village.
The incident happened when Narasamma was sitting inside the house watching TV. She had no idea that a leopard had entered the house; suddenly, the animal came inside carrying a goat and panicked everyone inside the building. Seeing danger, Narasamma ran out to protect herself and shut the door quickly. Her presence of mind saved her from direct encounter with the wild animal. Family and nearby people were shocked as a leopard entered a house where people were present.
After Narasamma came out safely and secured the house, villagers informed the Forest Department about it. Forest officials and staff reached there and assessed the situation before starting the rescue operation. Since the leopard was trapped inside a residential building, the team had to proceed carefully so that the animal did not escape into the surrounding residential area or injure anyone. A large number of villagers also gathered near the house to know what was happening, which added tension around the operation.
Forest Department team carried out the operation with Kiran (an animal tranquilisation expert who had arrived from Bannerghatta) as their guide. Officials found that the leopard had taken shelter under a cot inside the house when they were looking for it. As it was hiding in the small space, rescuers had to take precautions before approaching it. They gave a tranquillising injection to the leopard so that the animal could be safely captured.
The operation took about six hours before forest personnel finally caught the leopard. They did it very slowly so that residents would not panic further, and the family was relieved when the leopard was captured. The family and villagers were waiting for the operation to end. Once the leopard was safely taken by the Forest Department team, people breathed a sigh of relief.
It has once again brought to the fore the problems faced by villagers living near areas where wild animals are often sighted. Leopards enter residential areas in search of food, and people and livestock get into dangerous situations. Goats and sheep are especially vulnerable when wild predators move close to villages (especially at night). The Bandigowdanapalya incident recently has raised concerns among residents about leopards moving around their homes.
Forest officials need to follow the procedure prescribed for handling the captured animal (trained personnel and special equipment needed). This is an operation that needs trained people and specialised equipment so as not to endanger either the animal or people involved in it. Residents should not approach or try to chase wild animals if they are sighted near houses/agricultural areas; inform the Forest Department immediately and allow trained people to deal with it.
Six hours of rescue operation in Bandigowdanapalya ended without any injuries to the woman or other villagers (sic), according to information given. Forest Department’s quick response and the Bannerghatta tranquilisation expert's help brought the situation under control, but residents’ repeated leopard sightings reported over the past month make one wonder about the movement of wildlife in the area, and vigilance needs to be continued.
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