BENGALURU, 26 NOV

A week after a 52-year-old woman was tragically killed by a leopard near Shivagange Hills in Nelamangala taluk, local forest officials have captured two leopards from Kambalu Gollarahatti village. The captured animals include a seven-year-old male, apprehended on Monday, and a nine-year-old female, caught the following day.

Officials have collected blood and hair samples from both leopards, which will be sent to the National Centre for Biological Sciences for DNA analysis. This process aims to ascertain whether either of the captured leopards was involved in the fatal attack on the victim, identified as Kariamma. She was killed on 17 November while cutting grass in an agricultural field, allegedly being dragged into the forest by a leopard, which mauled her to death and consumed parts of her body.

The Forest Department has set up large cages and eight pairs of camera traps in the vicinity to monitor the wildlife. The camera traps have recorded footprints of two male leopards and one female, assisting officials in successfully capturing the latter two. Efforts are ongoing to locate a third male leopard, while measures are being taken to ensure the safety of local residents during this challenging period. -PTI