Escaped Leopard Back in The Wild

Earlier this month, the leopard hit the headlines after photos in Bangalore showed the animal prowling around a closed school and trying to maul forestry officials, a wildlife activist and others who came too close. “The park has a healthy population of deer, wild boar and smaller animals that the leopard can feed on”.

To know the whereabouts of the big cat, BBP officials contacted the neighborhood villagers and also informed that “the leopard was blind in the left eye and was extremely hungry but is not able to prey on big animals, as it has no teeth in his upper jaw”. Veterinarian of the park, Dr Manjunath, said that the leopard has the capability of maneuvering its body through narrow railings if it succeeds in moving its head out of the cage.

If some wildlife officials and conservationists heaved a sigh of relief on its escape, a few of them sounded cautious and said its survival is a question mark considering its missing canine and partial vision.

The leopard was found to have made good its escape from the cage on Monday February 15 morning.

The animal could be in a national park that surrounds the zoo, Ralph said.

The leopard is believed to have squeezed between the bars are the Bannerghatta Biological Park late on Sunday.

He added an inquiry was underway to find out how the leopard managed to escape from captivity. With no sign that the leopard is heading towards the villages, Mr. Panwar said it is “almost certain” that the animal is within the forest.

Forest officials met parents and the staff of Vibgyor High where they clarified that apart from the leopard that was captured, all other “sightings” in the area are rumours. “I can only hope for the best if this big cat has escaped”. “We’re wishing to lure it again quickly inside the playground limitations because it wouldn’t have gone much”, Mr Ralph said.