Panic among residents of Niddodi as Leopard kills calf

Panic among residents of Niddodi as Leopard kills calf

Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, Jan 15, 2017: A calf belonging to Lokesh Shetty has been killed in an attack by a leopard at Kallakumeru Palke in Niddodi village. Initial media reports speculated it to be an attack by a tiger, G D Dinesh, Moodbidri range forest officer who discounted this theory, affirmed that that the calf had fallen victim to a leopard and that the department has received several complaints of leopards stalking cattle and dogs in the area.

The attack took place sometime late night, villagers said adding that the calf was tied out in the open adjacent to the cattle shed behind the house. A neighbor who was sitting outside his house,  spotted the leopard headed towards the cattleshed in the moonlight. He could not however muster enough courage to raise an alarm and remained closeted inside the house, noted a resident, who alerted the media to the incident.

There have been several such instances of cattle and dogs being attacked by big wild cats in the region and people are fearing to come out of their house in the night. It is common for these big cats to come to the river nearby to quench thirst, these cats have ventured in to the area early this year. Lokesh Shetty, Moodbidri forest officer visited the sport and examined the scene where the calf was killed it was stated.