Ashwathapura: Ensnared leopard transferred to Pilikula

Moodbidri: A female leopard which got ensnared in a trap placed for a wild boar at Berinja in Ashwathapura of Tenkamijaru GP has been rescued by a team of forest department officials and officials from Pilikula Nisargadhama and later shifted to Pilikula Biological Park.

Someone had placed the snare with the aim to trap a wild boar at the base of Berinja hill, near the road leading to Koppadakumeri from Ashwathapura unfortunately ensnared the around four-year-old female wild cat. The feline’s attempt to escape from its bondage was noticed by the villagers who instantly informed the forest department.

Eventually, the leopard was tranquilized by zookeeper Dinesh with assistance from Pilikula Nisargadhama senior science officer and tranquilizer expert Dr Vikram Lobo under the guidance of Pilikula Biological Theme Park Director H Jayaprakash Bhandary and Moodbidri Zone Forest Officer Prakash Poojary. Later, the unconscious feline was shifted into a cage and transported to Pilikula. In the backdrop of the heavy rainfall during the period, the rescue operation lasted well into the afternoon.

Sub-division forest officer Ashwattha Gatti, forest conservators Shanker, Diwakar Vinayaka, Basappa and staffs were part of the rescue operation. Scores of people gathered around at the spot to view the rescue operation until the afternoon.