Trap placed for rogue leopards snares cub in HD Kote

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: A metal cage placed to trap stray adult leopards snared a cub in Badanguppe village of HD Kote taluk of Mysuru district on Tuesday.

The villagers prevented the Forest department personnel from shifting the trapped leopard cub till they disbursed ex gratia for the damage done by adult leopards recently. A wordy duel ensued between some villagers and the department staff.

The villagers complained that there has been a rise in the menace of leopards in the last three to four months and they have attacked domesticated animals. Following this, the department had placed the metal cage to nab adult leopards but a cub fell into the trap.

They refused to give permission to shift the trapped cub till they were given compensation for many cattle heads killed by wild animals. The people agreed to shift the little one only after the department personnel promised to convey their demands to senior officials. Upon their assurance, the cub was shifted to Nagerhole National Park.

Increased menace

Leopard menace has increased across the State lately, with two persons being killed by the spotted animals in T Narasipur taluk last month.

The Forest department has given shoot-at-sight orders to teams that it has constituted to tackle the danger. Though the department has been regularly nabbing the wild animals, their numbers have been rising by the day. According to an estimate, there are 2,000-2,500 leopards in the State.

In another incident last month, a leopard was killed when an unknown vehicle hit it as it was crossing the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru Express Highway near Ramanagar. Three leopards were nabbed on Tuesday in an escalated operation to decrease man-leopard conflicts.

Leopard lands on transformer, dies

At a time when leopards are making big news by attacking and killing people at will in various parts of the State, one spotted big cat has died under tragic circumstances in Tumakuru district.

According to sources, the leopard got electrocuted after it landed on an electricity transformer during the course of its movements at Karegowdanahalli village of Guddi taluk in Tumakuru district. The leopard, which probably came from the nearby hillock, may have been looking for a place to rest.

Its landing on the transformer triggered a short circuit, causing power to trip in the area. In their attempt to find out the reason for the power outage, some villagers noticed a “sacklike thing” on the transformer. Closer observation revealed the carcass of the electrocuted leopard.

They informed the Bescom and its staff came to the spot and removed the dead leopard from the transformer to restore the power supply. The carcass was handed over to the Forest department, which cremated the dead animal.