Belagavi: The Forest Department on Wednesday successfully captured a leopard that had been roaming villages under the Kakati Forest Range for the past 15 to 20 days, bringing relief to residents living in fear of repeated sightings.
Source : https://www.tarunbharat.com/a-leopard-came-to-hunt-a-dog-and-got-trapped-in-a-cage/
The leopard had been spotted in Parshanatti, Sutgatti, Shivapur, Ningyanatti, Ghuramatti, Kurihal, Kattanbhavi and nearby villages. Frequent sightings, including videos shared on social media, had raised concerns among locals, especially farmers who found it difficult to visit their fields during the ongoing kharif season.
To safely capture the animal, forest officials installed a trap cage in the Sutgatti forest area. A dog was placed in a separate protected compartment inside the cage to attract the leopard, as dogs are among its natural prey. When the leopard entered the cage to hunt the bait, the trap door automatically shut, allowing officials to capture the animal without causing it any injury.
Forest officers and staff immediately reached the site after the leopard was trapped. The animal was later shifted to the Kakati Wildlife Rescue Centre, where it is being monitored. Forest officials said the leopard will be released into a suitable habitat after a decision is taken by senior authorities.
According to B.L. Sanadi, Range Forest Officer, Kakati, the operation was carried out after repeated leopard sightings in the area prompted the department to install the trap cage. The successful rescue has eased fears among residents, who had been on alert for over two weeks.
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