Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala/Hebri

Karkala/Hebri, Jun 27: A leopard sighting near a roadside in Karkala and a daylight attack on a calf in Hebri have sparked fear among residents in the region, prompting calls for immediate action from the forest department.

A leopard was spotted on the roadside near Pilikallu in Sanoor village, Karkala, at around 8 pm on June 24, causing concern among local residents.

A resident of the Pilikallu area, who was returning home from Karkala town, noticed the leopard crossing the road and captured the sighting on a mobile phone camera.

As an educational institution is located close to the spot where the leopard was seen and the area is frequented daily by students and the public, residents have urged people to remain cautious. Villagers have also demanded that the forest department conduct an inspection and take necessary precautionary measures.

In a separate incident, a leopard injured a calf in a broad daylight attack near Seethanadi Nature Camp in Hebri on Friday, further heightening fears among local residents.

Chandrasekhar Shetty had let his cattle out to graze in a paddy field when the leopard attacked one of the calves, biting it on the neck. The leopard fled after the other cows rushed towards the calf.

Residents said several cows and dogs in the surrounding areas have already fallen prey to leopards. As a result, many households are now keeping their dogs inside cages for safety. The latest daytime attack has left villagers living in fear.