Similar to an instance reported earlier this year, a leopard fatally attacked a loadman at a slope near the 25th bend of Thimbam Ghat Section in the early hours on Thursday. In the past incident, a driver was attacked by a predator, which was subsequently caged.
It is learnt that 30-plus Srinivas of Lokkanahalli in Kollegal taluk, Karnataka was defecating in the forest area when the leopard pounced on and dragged him into a thicket. His companion, along with a few passers-by, made an abortive bid to chase the animal, the Conservator of Forest and Director of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve told The Hindu . Srinivas, along with his companion, was guarding a load vehicle that had broken down.
He went into the bushes to answer the call of nature. (In fact, the Forest Department has been appealing to travellers along the route segmenting the core forest area not to get down midway).
The predator had fed on the right thigh portion of the victim, and left the body, which was later taken out of the thicket.
The body was handed over to family members after post-mortem, District Forest Officer of Sathyamangalam Division and Deputy Director of STR K.Rajkumar said.