Trapped leopard rescued in Mysuru
Female leopard sedated, lifted from a 80-feet well using nets
The Nagarahole National Park officials on Tuesday rescued a female leopard that was trapped inside a dry narrow open well at Karapura village in HD Kote taluk of Mysuru district.
The two-and-half-yearold leopard was trapped in the well since July 18. The forest officials sedated the wild animal and lifted it out of the nearly 80-feet well using nets after a 56hour operation spanning over three days.
The rescue operation by the forest staff began on July 18 at around 10 am. According to the villagers, the leopard was trapped inside the dry community well on July 16 itself.
Nagarahole National Park director and Conservator of Forests Mahesh Kumar told this newspaper that on Tuesday a cage was redesigned to suit the size of the well. The activities and location of the trapped leopard were monitored by the forest personnel through a suspended surveillance camera.
“We were able to pinpoint its location in the well. The leopard was hiding in a cave inside the well where even a man could easily fit. Our wildlife veterinarian Akram got down the well with the help of redesigned cage and tranquilised the leopard before it was lifted using nets,” said Mahesh Kumar.
Initially, forest staff suspended a ladder down the well for the leopard to climb up on its own, but in vain.
Later, a net was spread out on the floor of the well, keeping flesh as bait but the leopard did not fall for it.
Though the leopard did not get attracted to the bait offered, Mahesh Kumar said the animal was exhausted and drank about two litres of water in one go which was monitored on the surveillance camera.
According to the director, the leopard was treated by the vets and is in good health. The rescued leopard will be released into the forests.