CHIKKAMAGALURU: Big cats have mauled villagers and attacked cattle but a leopard in a school? It happened at Gnana Jyothi School in Chikkamagaluru on Thursday creating havoc with both students and the leopard not knowing what to do. On seeing the animal at the entrance, the students screamed and ran helter skelter while the frightened leopard ran into the school. It ended up in the computer room which fortunately was empty.
The animal remained locked up in the room, measuring six foot by six for five-and-a-half-hours, before it was tranquilised and taken away by forest officials. Before entering the school, the leopard had attacked a pedestrian, Pattabhirame Gowda, who sustained a serious injury on his right arm and was hospitalised.
Inside the school the animal bit Ganesh, a forest department driver on his fingers when he tried to take pictures through the window using his mobile.
After school authorities informed the police and foresters, officials from Tavarekopa Lion Safari in Shivamogga arrived at the spot and tranquilized the leopard. DCF Manik told Deccan Chronicle that it was trapped in a cage. The leopard will be subjected to a medical examination before deciding on the future course of action.
Range Forest Officer Abdullah, who supervised the operation said a leopard was sighted in Magadi and surrounding villages in the taluk in the past fortnight. The same animal might have strayed into the city and entered the school, he added.
