Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jan 3: A leopard which attacked a farmer and two forest officials on Thursday January 2, left them injured. The condition of the farmer is said to be serious. The incident happened at Balpa lvillage near Subrahmanya in the taluk.

Balakrishna (65), a farmer from Kayara, as well as assistant range forest officer Austin Soans and forester Divis, were injured in the incident. Balakrishna, after providing initial care, was shifted to a hospital at Mangaluru. The government officials are being treated in a local hospital.

Since sometime, a number of pet dogs from villages like Kula, Alkabe Kalleri and Yennemajalu were being devoured by unidentified by wild animal at night. Sometimes, leopards were even sighted during the day, making the villagers jittery. The villagers are scared about the prospects of the leopard, emboldened by its success in injuring a human, of attacking people again. Balpa village is surrounded by forests and senior citizens and school children face danger from wild animals.

After sighting a leopard inside the forest at Kula, and that it had strayed into the plantation of Honnappa and Sesappa Alkanbe on Wednesday night, villagers had informed the forest department. The department officials came at night with a trap and tried to catch hold of the animal but failed in their objective. When a farmer, Balakrishna, visited his farm on Thursday, the leopard suddenly attacked him, leaving Balakrishna seriously injured in the face and other body parts. The villagers who heard Balakrishna's cries for help rushed there but the leopard succeeded in running away.

The forest officials who came to know about it began to hunt for the animal. On Thursday evening, the animal suddenly pounced on the forest officials and escaped into the forest. Range forest officer of Subrahmanya, Tyagaraj, said that on Friday, his department will resume operations to locate the animal with the help of drone.