Mysuru: A six-year-old girl was rescued by her father after she was dragged for some distance by a leopard in border district of Chamarajanagar last week, triggering panic among forest dwellers.
The parents are keeping a watch on the activities of their children and they are not being released outside their homes in the village bordering the tiger reserve. There are 16 children in primary classes at Kaggaligundi Podu, Kollegal Wildlife Division, BRT Tiger Reserve.
Village head Kethegowda told TOI that the incident of leopard attack on a six-year-old girl has really left a wound in the minds of the forest dwellers. “We have been living in the forest for almost six decades and we have not seen any such attack till recently. The only relief for the villagers is the escape of a six-year-old girl Sushila from the jaws of death,” he said.
At present, the forest department employees are camping and cages have been installed in the village to catch the big cat. “The leopard has gone inside the forest. Since forest officials are present, the villagers feel safe, but they are in panic, especially families with small children,” Kethegowda said.
“There are 50 families in the village and 16 of them have children. His parents are alert and are not leaving him alone. Even the children are not sent to the school, which is located in Podu. They would send the children only when the teachers were present and then immediately bring them back,” Kethegowda explained.
daughter of Ramu And Lalita – 6-year-old Sushila survived the attack as her father chased the big cat away soon after she raised an alarm. While jumping over the elephant-proof moat about 10 feet deep, the big cat lost its grip on her and the girl fell into the moat and broke her lower jaw. Camera traps have been installed in the area to keep an eye on the big cat and capture the leopard. Villagers are also advised not to venture out alone and avoid crouching as big cats mistake humans for smaller creatures and attack humans.
Mysuru Chief Conservator of Forests Malathi Priya, who is holding the additional charge of Chamarajanagar, said, “A leopard has been spotted directly by forest officials and also through camera traps. Personnel attached to the Leopard Task Force are patrolling the area to catch the big cat. The condition of the injured girl is stable and she is still undergoing treatment.
The parents are keeping a watch on the activities of their children and they are not being released outside their homes in the village bordering the tiger reserve. There are 16 children in primary classes at Kaggaligundi Podu, Kollegal Wildlife Division, BRT Tiger Reserve.
Village head Kethegowda told TOI that the incident of leopard attack on a six-year-old girl has really left a wound in the minds of the forest dwellers. “We have been living in the forest for almost six decades and we have not seen any such attack till recently. The only relief for the villagers is the escape of a six-year-old girl Sushila from the jaws of death,” he said.
At present, the forest department employees are camping and cages have been installed in the village to catch the big cat. “The leopard has gone inside the forest. Since forest officials are present, the villagers feel safe, but they are in panic, especially families with small children,” Kethegowda said.
“There are 50 families in the village and 16 of them have children. His parents are alert and are not leaving him alone. Even the children are not sent to the school, which is located in Podu. They would send the children only when the teachers were present and then immediately bring them back,” Kethegowda explained.
daughter of Ramu And Lalita – 6-year-old Sushila survived the attack as her father chased the big cat away soon after she raised an alarm. While jumping over the elephant-proof moat about 10 feet deep, the big cat lost its grip on her and the girl fell into the moat and broke her lower jaw. Camera traps have been installed in the area to keep an eye on the big cat and capture the leopard. Villagers are also advised not to venture out alone and avoid crouching as big cats mistake humans for smaller creatures and attack humans.
Mysuru Chief Conservator of Forests Malathi Priya, who is holding the additional charge of Chamarajanagar, said, “A leopard has been spotted directly by forest officials and also through camera traps. Personnel attached to the Leopard Task Force are patrolling the area to catch the big cat. The condition of the injured girl is stable and she is still undergoing treatment.