Wild Leopard Caught After Week Of Sightings In Bengaluru

In the heart of Bengaluru's bustling IT hub, a wild leopard that had sparked fear among residents and workers in Electronic City was safely caught by forest officials. The capture occurred on the sprawling ITI campus shortly after midnight, bringing an end to a tense week of sightings and close calls. This area, known for its dense vegetation, had become an unexpected refuge for the stealthy predator.

Forest officials, determined to capture the elusive animal without harm, brought in the Leopard Task Force (LTF) and increased their patrols throughout the area. They employed a strategic method by setting up three cages with chicken as bait, sourced from Kanakapura. Despite the leopard's cunning ability to evade capture on several occasions, their persistence paid off. The operation was meticulously planned, with the safety of both the leopard and the local community as a top priority.

The leopard, a male estimated to be around 4 to 5 years old, was found to be healthy upon capture. It is believed that he wandered into the busy urban area from the nearby Bannerghatta National Park, possibly traveling through the Gottigere NICE corridor. Following its capture, the big cat was moved to the Bannerghatta Biological Park for a comprehensive health check-up and to begin its rehabilitation process. This careful approach ensured that the leopard would be treated with the care it needed.

N. Ravindra Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Bengaluru Urban, confirmed the successful operation, noting the leopard was captured near the Heli taxi services area on the ITI grounds. The sprawling 30-acre campus had provided a perfect hiding spot for the leopard, complicating the rescue efforts but ultimately leading to a successful outcome.

The presence of the leopard had caused considerable alarm among employees of various IT and BT companies located in Electronic City, leading to heightened caution and restricted movement during night hours.

Swarnalatha, an employee at a private firm in the area, expressed her relief at the news of the capture, stating, "We were advised not to walk around during night hours, which was concerning since our shifts end late. Riding through the area after work was frightening. However, the forest personnel's constant patrolling and vigilance reassured us. We are relieved that the leopard was safely captured."