Leopard captured near Bengaluru's Electronic City days after being spotted in the IT hub. Watch

Camera s and thermal drones were used to trace the big cat. (Image credit: Moneycontrol)

Forest department officials in Bengaluru have captured a leopard near Electronic City close to midnight on Tuesday. It is expected to be shifted to the Bannerghatta Biological Park. The five-year-old male leopard had caused panic among locals after being spotted on the streets of Electronic City more than a week ago. A video had also surfaced showing the big cat crossing a flyover road near a toll plaza at 3 am.

Forest officials had launched an extensive search operation and had installed cameras at various locations. Thermal drones were also deployed to track the leopard's movement.

Forest department officials capture a leopard near Electronic City in Bengaluru. Time to declare all areas around Bengaluru as ecologically sensitive zone and stop all development activities. Stop lecturing people of Western Ghats, focus on your own Bengaluru environmentalists. pic.twitter.com/C5jjMxsKBp
DP SATISH (@dp_satish) September 25, 2024

“Panic had gripped the residents and employees of tech firms and it was a big challenge for the forest department to ensure safety and awareness among them,” assistant conservator of forest, Ganesh V. Thadagani, who headed the operation, told The Hindu.

A cage measuring 10x12 feet was placed with two hens as bait for the leopard. It had taken shelter in the ITI campus spread across 30 acres. The area was not manicured and the wild bushes and trees allowed the animal to hide easily, forest department officials told the publication.

The #leopard captured near #ElectronicCity in #Bengaluru was captured using a special cage and two hens as bait. Via @ChristinMP_ pic.twitter.com/zNPkNbAfqS Ankita Sengupta (@AnkitaSengupta_) September 25, 2024

“Soon after the leopard was trapped it was microchipped and taken to Bannerghatta National Park for medical examination. It will be released after the necessary procedures,” Thadagani added.