Mysuru, 23 Jan

Forest officials on Friday captured a five-year-old leopard believed to have killed a devotee in Malemahadeshwara Hills within 24 hours of the incident.

On 21 January, Praveen of Cheeranahalli in Mandya district was killed around 5.45am during a padayatra near Rangaswamy Vaddu. His body was recovered about 100metres from the site.

The Forest Department launched a large-scale operation with over 50 personnel, including wildlife experts, veterinarians, trained trackers, and drone surveillance teams. As a precaution, the district administration temporarily banned padayatra and two-wheeler movement along forest routes from 21 to 24 January.

Using drones, camera traps, cages, and ground tracking, officials tranquillised and captured the male leopard on Thursday at 9pm. Experts at Tiger Cell in Bengaluru confirmed its involvement via stripe pattern analysis and drone visuals.

The leopard has been shifted to the Chamundi Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Koorgalli for observation.

Minister K Venkatesh convened an emergency meeting, instructed officials to strengthen preventive measures, and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for Praveen’s family. Deputy Conservator Bhaskar said the leopard is in good health, and officials continue to monitor forest areas for human-wildlife safety.