Coonoor: Injured Leopard Stuck in Muddy Slush for 15 Hours Drowns

Veterinarians could not save the leopard on time as the team was deputed in Coimbatore to capture a rogue elephant.

In June last year, a leopard trapped in a well in Mudrady, Udupi district of Karnataka. (Photo: AP screengrab)

• A seven-year-old injured male leopard drowned in a muddy slush in a pond in which it was stuck for 15 hours in a village on the suburbs of Coonoor.
  
  

• The leopard was spotted limping around Chinnavandisolai village, some 20 km from Udhagamandalam, since Saturday. It got caught in a noose meant to trap wild boars at an estate and injured one of its legs while freeing itself.
  
  
• The animal was later found trapped in the pond and villagers informed the Forest officials around 5.30 pm on Sunday. Police said the officials placed a cage near the pond and planned to tranquillise it when it came out.
  
  
• However, veterinarians could not arrive at the spot, as a team was deputed to the outskirts of Coimbatore to capture a rogue elephant that was causing panic among people for the last one year, police said.
  
  
• The leopard was dead by the time a team arrived. Villagers alleged that Department’s negligence in attending the leopard on time led to its death.
  
  

(With PTI inputs)