Leopards threat to personnel in Goa base: Navy

Leopards are threatening personnel at a naval base in southern Goa where the newly acquired MiG-29 K fighters are based as well as civilians in surrounding areas, the Indian Navy said Friday even as a leopard was trapped there.

According to the navy statement, the leopard had been sighted on April 1 in the forested area near the perimeter of the base which is home to recently acquired Russian fighter jets.

The navy in co-ordination with the forest department trapped the leopard earlier Friday.

"The juvenile leopard is about three years old and was unhurt and in good health. The presence of these big cats has been a threat not only to the service personnel working and residing at INS Hansa but also to the civil populace residing in and around Dabolim and Bogmalo," the statement said.

In February last year, a leopard which had slipped into the same naval base, located in Dabolim, 35 km south of the capital, was trapped in cooperation with forest department officials.