A leopard was safely rescued and rehabilitated on Monday after quick-thinking residents at Nagasandra in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district were able to lock it in a bathroom.
The four-year-old female leopard had strayed into the taluk around 4.30 am in search of food and entered a bathroom built in front of one villager’s house. Fortunately, the owner of the house, Ashwathaiah, was alerted by the frantic clucking of the hens.
He entered the bathroom, spotted the leopard and immediately closed the door, locking it from outside.
Range Forest Officer Ramesh told The Hindu , “We went to the spot after Ashwathaiah informed the police about the leopard,” adding that the owner did the right thing by closing and locking the door. A Rapid Response Team from Hassan, including a veterinary doctor arrived at the spot soon after.
It took over five hours to tranquillise and capture the leopard. Mr. Ramesh said that the leopard is being kept under observation and will be released into the forest soon.
