BENGALURU: In a remarkable display of quick thinking, a couple managed to trap a leopard that had entered their home and promptly alerted the Forest Department. Following a five-hour operation filled with suspense, the leopard was successfully tranquilized and safely transported to the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
The incident took place at Kuntlu Reddy Layout in Jigani, located on the outskirts of the city. Shocking CCTV footage captured the moment when the leopard brushed past a schoolboy who was preparing to leave for school before making its way into the house.
The leopard had been spotted roaming around the property owned by Manjunath throughout the night. When the tenant, Venkatesh, stepped outside around 8 am on Thursday, the leopard seized the opportunity to sneak inside. Fortunately, only Venkatalakshmi, his wife, was at home at the time, as their son Nikhil was away.
The couple managed to escape the house and secure the leopard inside before contacting the Forest Department. News of the incident quickly spread, drawing large crowds to the area, including people gathered on rooftops.
Forest Department officials and police swiftly arrived at the scene, setting up a cage at the house’s entrance and placing nets around the area. Despite the leopard initially hiding under a cot, the arrival of veterinarian Dr. Kiran and his team from the Bannerghatta Biological Park prompted the Forest staff to bring in an additional cage. After a tense five-hour wait, the leopard was successfully tranquilized, captured, and transported to the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
Ganesh, Assistant Conservator of Forests for Bengaluru’s south division, commended the couple for their quick actions, stating, “We immediately initiated the operation to capture the leopard upon receiving the alert. The fact that the leopard ventured 1.5 km into human territory and managed to hide inside a house while people were present is surprising. The couple’s presence of mind in securing the leopard was commend.
Additionally, he stated, “We were able to locate the leopard in a small room using mobile cameras, and the veterinarian successfully sedated it with two darts. The female leopard is estimated to be around 6-7 years old, and its health will be assessed at the BBP.”
Venkatesh recounted, “We had placed a sheet of plywood at the door, but the leopard managed to knock it down and enter the house. I was watching TV at the time, while my wife was sitting on the floor drinking milk. Once the leopard entered the room, we quickly locked the house and evacuated.”
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