Forest dept staff rescue injured leopard in Hebri

DHNS

• The wild cat has been shifted to Pilikula Nisargadhama

 

Hebri, 03 July 2011: The villagers of Kotebettu had a rare guest on Saturday morning in the form of an injured leopard and the forest officials had a tough time in capturing it.

 

Officials of the forest department and PIlikula Nisargadhama carrying the leopard after injecting a tranquiliser, at Kotebettu in Muniyalu near Hebri on Saturday. DH photosIt took them a good six hours of operation, to catch the leopard which was found in front of the house of one Anand Shetty at Kotebettu in Muniyalu Kadu stream.

 

The leopard was first spotted at 7 am, lying in a canal on Hebri-Karkala road. However, it was not in a position to move, perhaps due to injuries. As the news began to spread, a large number of people gathered at the spot.

 

Fearing the presence of large number of people, the leopard entered into the estate of Anand Shetty at Kotebettu. The forest department officials who rushed to the spot did their best to nab the wild cat. In fact, at one point of time, the leopard even attacked the officials when they tried to catch it.

 

As the people began to throng the site, the leopard hid in a bush.  At 4 pm, experts from Pilikula Nisargadhama succeeded in tranquilising the leopard which fell unconscious. Later, it was shifted to Pilikula.

 

Anaesthetist from Pilikula Nisargadhama along with Scientific Officer Vikram, Roshan, Dinesh and veterinary doctor Dr Harish Ramankar were present.  The leopard has suffered serious injuries.

 

It must have been hit by a vehicle while crossing the road in the wee hours of Saturday. It was finding difficult to walk and looked tired, said locals. The injured forest department staff are D A Ponnappa and N Chikka. They  are recuperating in Manipal Hospital.

 

When contacted, Pilikula Nisargadhama Director Manjunath Bhandary quoting doctors said that the health condition of leopard is bad as it has suffered serious injuries.  “We will try our best to save the leopard,” he said. However, sources said that the chances of the survival of the leopard are remote.