Leopard Captured Near Anekal After Several Attacks In Bengaluru Suburbs

Forest officials in Karnataka successfully captured a leopard on Wednesday evening after several hours of monitoring. The animal had been spotted multiple times over the past two weeks, roaming the outskirts of Bengaluru with two other big cats. Officials confirmed that the leopard, which was captured near Anekal, had also attacked two cows a week earlier.

According to the Deputy Conservator of Forests for Bengaluru Urban, three leopards were reportedly causing distress in the city. CCTV footage from a home in the city also showed two leopards wandering around a parking area late at night on January 23.

N. Ravindra Kumar, the Deputy Conservator, explained to News18, "When people carelessly dump garbage on roadsides, away from designated areas, it attracts stray dogs, which, in turn, lure leopards hunting for food. While two leopards were caught on CCTV, another was captured near Anekal."

Recent months have seen a number of leopard attacks, including the tragic death of a woman in November 2024 while returning home. The attack occurred in Nelamangala, a Bengaluru rural area, where authorities believe the animal might have consumed her head. In addition to attacking humans, leopards have also targeted dogs, cows, and other animals within the city in recent weeks.

Given the increased leopard activity, authorities have issued an alert and launched public awareness campaigns. The forest department has enlisted experts to guide the public on how to deal with potential encounters. Night patrols in relevant areas have been intensified, and cages have been set up to capture the remaining leopards.