Leopard enters Vibgyor School premises in Bengaluru (Watch Video)

Officials found that the leopard had tiptoed out of the school building at 7.45 am. But reports say that the forest officials have escaped without major injuries as the leopard was under the influence of the spreading drug inside its system. The leopard, which played hide-and-seek with the rescue team and onlookers, cut loose during the final stages of the operation to nab it and attacked wildlife expert Sanjay Gubbi, who was assisting the authorities and forest officials.

Personnel from the Bannerghatta National Park arrived to tranquillise the animal, while wildlife experts discussed strategies to capture it. Around noon, the animal was spotted lurking in an adjoining farm.

In a shocking incident, a leopard entered a school compound here on Sunday injuring at least four people. “We will keep you informed about the same”. Gubbi and the forest official are out of danger and under treatment at a hospital. “Although it was injected with tranquilisers it could be captured only around 20.15 local time when the medication took full effect”, senior police official S Boralingaiah told reporters. The leopard was seen roaming freely in the school premises.

A large crowd, especially anxious parents, had gathered outside the school throughout the day.

Forest department officials suspect the leopard to have travelled at night as no one reported to have sighted it before the school.

Roshan D’Souza, principal of Vibgyor High, said classes would reopen only after the school received a clearance from the authorities. Around 6pm, forest per sonnel were closing in on the leopard hiding in one of the school rooms when the big cat suddenly sprang out and darted towards the swim ming pool. School management also came to the spot.