The leopard cub, which had been trapped in a cage on Tuesday at Naganahalli in the taluk, has finally been shifted to Tavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari, in Shimoga on Saturday.
The villagers had opposed the shifting of the cub since five days, demanding the Forest department officials to capture its mother. It has to be recalled that a seven-year-old boy had been mauled by a leopard and the cage had been laid to trap the animal. Even though the leopard had come near the cage, which was captured on camera, it was not trapped. However, its cub had been trapped later.
The efforts of the Forest officials to tranquilise the leopard had also failed and the leopard had reportedly escaped into the forest, along with its other cub. Meanwhile, the cub had sustained injuries in its bid to escape from the cage. The temporary treatment provided by the veterinarians was not of much use, as it could not be administered antibiotics.
Convinced
On Friday night, the villagers agreed to the Forest department shifting the cub, on condition that its mother will be captured soon. So, the cub was shifted on Saturday morning. The villagers said, even while shifting, the cub was bleeding.
Experts said, if the cub was bleeding, a veterinarian should have accompanied it while shifting. However, the norm was not followed, according to sources.
Leopards usually keep distance from human beings. But, if leopards were roaming about near fields in Naganahalli, human beings are responsible for that, say experts.
“Illegal quarries have mushroomed near Naganahalli and the labourers throw leftover food nearby. So, domestic animals like dogs and sheep stray near the place, attracting leopards. As the leopards got easy prey near the quarries, leopards were roaming around the place,” they said.
Now, the mother leopard, which has supposedly escaped into the forest along with its another cub has sensed a threat to its life. So, the chances of it returning to the village are bleak,” they add.
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