Leopard caught in Varanga village

Karkala: Locals at Varanga village in the taluk were terrified after they noticed a leopard prowling in the area. The leopard, which had entered the poultry cages at Kumara Poojary’s house at Patrabettu in the village left the residents terrified.

On Wednesday morning around 3 am, the chicken started to quite a din and awakned by the noise, Kumara rushed to the cages only to find the feline in it. He immediately closed the door to the cage and informed forest officials of the situation.

At around 5 am, forest conservator Avinash visited the location and at around 9am, the wild cat was tempted out of the cage and safely caught in a net laid out by the forest officials. Sub-zone forest officer Manjunath, Raghavendra Shetty, forest conservator Honnappa, Anand, Avinash were present.

Scores of people gathered at the spot to catch a glimpse of the poor, scared out its wits leopard and although, there were close to 25 hens in the cage, the leopard spared all of them. The leopard hurt only one hen, informs S Kumara Poojary.

Leopard menace

There is a rise in leopard menace in Karkala taluk suddenly and is causing much fear amongst the people. A few months back, a cow fell target to a leopard attack in Kantavara area post which, people were apprehensive to go out in the area as darkness crept in. last week, a leopard killed the dogs belonging to Satish Poojary and Prema Poojarthi at Permanu in Varanga village.