Bhubaneswar: The forest department finally captured the leopard which was found roaming at Baripada town in Mayurbhanj district on Friday morning.
According to sources, the forest personnel managed to tranquillize and cage the leopard which entered the premises of Budhikhamaria Primary School.
The leopard was seen roaming at around 6.30 am near Budhikhamaria Primary School. As dogs started barking after seeing the leopard, the latter entered into the school campus. Locals, seeing the leopard, informed the Forest Department.
It is suspected that the wild animal has sneaked into Baripada town in search of food from Similipal Sanctuary.
An onlooker said, “When I was about to leave for market, I found dogs started barking and birds chirping all of sudden. To my utter surprise, I saw a giant leopard entering the school campus. Chances of leopard entering into our houses and attacking us cannot be ruled out if the tiger is not trapped at the earliest.”
Another onlooker Makar Sarem said, “I was going to drop my daughter in tuition at 6.30 when I spotted the leopard. It was quite obvious on my part to get nervous after seeing the big cat. The concerned department should take immediate steps to capture the animal.”
