BELAGAVI
It’s been a month since the leopard that was sighted for the first time in Belagavi on August 5, but is still elusive despite all-out attempts by the forest and police departments.
According to the information received from official sources, about a crore has been spent for mission leopard so far while the animal has remained elusive keeping the authorities on tenterhooks.
A team of about 300 personnel competently supported by high-tech surveillance cameras, a pack of high breed dogs, sharp shooters equipped with tranquiliser guns combing about 300 acres of area mounted on two elephants have failed in capturing the leopard that escaped once right under the eyes of the forest personnel.
Apart from closing the roads in the locality for over a fortnight, 22 schools were forced to shut by authorities for about 28 days leading to chaos among parents and students.
Meanwhile, in an order issued on Sunday, the 22 schools that remained shut will be reopening from Monday (September 5).
It may be recalled that the big cat had attacked a construction worker on August 5 leaving him wounded. Later it was sighted thrice and escaped from the darts of sharpshooters. As the
pressure started mounting-up from every sector, the forest department also adopted the “honey trap” tactic to capture the leopard, the attempt which failed leaving the authorities in a lurch.
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Anthony Mariyappa who is also heading ‘Operation Leopard’ told The Goan that capturing the leopard on the loose is more difficult than to other wild animals.
“Not only it is wise but it sprints at a faster pace, due to which it runs very fast which the members of the operating team witnessed on August 22,” Mariyappa who has studied on hunting and capturing the wild animals said.
According to him, the animals feel unsafe in noisy conditions and keep changing the location frequently, he said, attributing the reason for the elusive animal.
