Leopard is still on the hunt in Belagavi; 22 Schools Closed | Hubli News – Times of India – India Times English News – Henry’s Club

Belagavi: For the last seven days, forest department personnel have been making a lot of efforts to catch the leopard in the golf course spread over 250 acres in the heart of the city. Despite several attempts and the use of various techniques, the department has failed to capture the big cat.
In view of the threat of leopard, DC Nitesh Patil has declared a holiday in 22 schools within a radius of 2 km around the golf course. The public is blaming the inefficiency of forest workers and their lack of seriousness for the delay in catching the leopard. However, the officials of the department have their own reasons to justify the delay in catching the leopard.
The leopard was first sighted on August 4 in Jadhav Nagar. On the same day, it injured a construction worker. Found on the golf course two days later. The district administration has declared a holiday in the schools of the area for the last four days. Police have barred morning and evening walkers from entering golf courses under the Department of Defense. The police also appealed to the people not to come out unnecessarily.
Due to the delay in the success of the campaign, there is increasing pressure on the forest officials to catch the leopard. More than 50 forest personnel including experts and doctors equipped with tranquilizers are engaged in the operation. Around 16 sensor cameras have been installed to detect leopards around the golf course. Despite this, the leopard has managed to dodge the personnel engaged in the operation.
There are seven traps with bait inside the golf course. According to Range Forest Officer Rakesh Arjunwad, on Wednesday night from 10 am to 7 am, a forest worker was sitting inside the cage with a tranquilizer, but to no avail. The plan was to pacify the big cat by sitting inside the cage, but the animal did not wake up. The department has tried to use drone cameras for the operation, but it is not working due to low signal and incessant rain.
Ashok Chandragi, president of the Belagavi District Working Committee of Kannada organizations, demanded that in-charge Deputy Conservator of Forests Anthony Mariappa should ensure to trap the leopard at the earliest by calling experts to trap the wild animals.