DAVANGERE: An injured leopard attacked a rescue team during an operation near Kokkanur village in Davanagere taluk on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred along the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway, where forest officials attempted to rescue the injured animal safely.
The leopard reportedly suffered serious injuries after a car struck it while crossing the highway around midnight Monday. The impact threw the animal into a roadside drain, leaving it with severe injuries to its eye and hip. Highway patrol personnel spotted the injured leopard and immediately alerted the forest department about the incident. Assistant Conservator of Forests Anand said officials received information about the animal around 12.30 am Tuesday. Forest personnel quickly reached the location and found the leopard unable to stand or move properly. Although the animal appeared otherwise healthy, officials observed aggressive behaviour during their initial assessment at the spot.
Injured Leopard Sedated and Shifted for Treatment
Since Davanagere lacks a trained wildlife veterinarian, officials requested assistance from a wildlife veterinary team from Hampi. The veterinary team arrived and began the rescue operation around 9 am Tuesday morning. Veterinarians administered the first dose of anaesthesia to sedate the leopard before attempting to capture it. However, the animal suddenly attacked rescue personnel during the procedure, injuring forest guard Maralusiddappa.
The leopard injured his hand, leg and chest, prompting officials to shift him immediately to a hospital. Meanwhile, the rescue team administered a second anaesthesia dose to safely immobilise the injured leopard. The second dose successfully sedated the animal, allowing officials to capture and move it for further treatment. Anand highlighted the department’s shortage of trained wildlife veterinarians, which forced officials to seek assistance from Hampi. Officials also noted that the NH-48 stretch between Anagodu and Kokkanur regularly witnesses wildlife movement. Authorities have installed warning signs along the stretch and advised motorists to slow down while driving through the area.
Also Read : Cognizant Faces US Green Card Filing Suspension, Will Existing Workers Be Impacted?