A leopard that had strayed into Mysore was badly injured after a sharp-pointed fence pierced through its legs at the BEML complex on Monday morning. The injured big cat was stuck in the fence till the forest officials rescued it in the morning. The leopard had been seen on the campus off and on for the last six months. The forest officials had laid traps with dogs inside them, but the leopard had escaped with the bait and was not caught. A morning walker noticed the injured leopard and informed the BEML security personnel, who in turn alerted the forest officials. The leopard was tranquilised and captured around 8 am.
“The Leopard was taken to the veterinary hospital at the Mysore Zoo. After its wounds were stitched, the animal was shifted to the Bannergatta National Park,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests Devraj. The BEML campus, spread across 400 acres with a lot of vegetation, is visited by stray leopards frequently. Its proximity to Koorgalli minor forest has helped the big cats stray into the campus. The leopards attack only if disturbed, he said. The forest department had formed an animal rescue team, but had withdrawn it four months ago. Such a force is needed in Mysore and surrounding areas to take care of stray wild animals, a forest department official said.