Forest personnel have campied at Dodda Chelluru village in Challakere taluk as part of the combing operation to track and capture the leopard
Chitradurga : The forest department has intensified its search for the animal suspected to have killed a 60-year-old farmer in Dodda Chelluru village of Challakere taluk. On Nov 6 night, personnel from the Challakere forest range teamed up with officials from Andhra Pradesh’s Penukonda forest range to conduct searches in border villages, adjoining forest stretches and the Dodda Chelluru beat under the Parashurampura section. 7 to widen the search effort.
Forest teams from Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh have launched a joint combing operation to trace and capture the big cat. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Our priority is to capture it and ensure the safety of residents in surrounding villages,” said regional forest officer N Vasudev. During the operation, officials found pugmarks of a wild animal near Dodda Chelluru village, prompting the department to intensify surveillance and monitor its movements closely. The forest department has also sought assistance from Parashurampura police to provide security during the operation. Police officials have assured support whenever required. Acting on instructions from deputy conservator of forests Gopya Naik, additional personnel from the Hiriyur and Molakalmuru forest ranges have been deployed since Nov. “We are deploying additional staff and conducting searches at multiple locations to trace the animal. Residents have been advised not to venture alone into agricultural fields or forest areas at night and to immediately alert forest officials about pugmarks or sightings of wild animals. The suspected leopard attack has sparked fear in villages along the forest fringes, with capturing the animal and restoring public confidence emerging as the department’s biggest challenges. Download the TOI App.