Leopard trapped in Udupi district

A leopard which had been spreading panic among villagers near Kundapur in neighbouring Udupi district for the last few weeks has been trapped by Forest officials.

The animal was caught at Malady village near Kundapur yesterday, official sources said.

After the big cat, which strayed into the village, had eaten some dogs in recent days, the forest department set up a cage in Malady to trap the leopard a week ago.

As it did not fall for a goat kept as a bait initially, the forest personnel used three small dogs following which the leopard got trapped in the cage.

Kundapur range Forest officer Sharath Shetty said the leopard was male and three years old.

After conducting a check-up and finding that the animal was healthy, it was released in the Mookambika wildlife sanctuary, he said.