SANGUEM: The Forest Department officials on Monday rescued a leopard which was trapped in a toilet at a thickly populated Chanimol Ward of Kalay Village in Sanguem Taluka.
The rescue operations which lasted for over two hours were undertaken by the Forest Department officials led by Anand Jadhav from Ponda division and accompanied by RFO Collem and also officials from Bondla Wild Life Sanctuary.
The leopard was noticed very early in the morning by a villager Anil Pandharmissal, who had just come out from his house from his sleep. On noticing the leopard rushing into the toilet, Anil called his fellow villager, who subsequently locked the leopard in the toilet.
The residents informed that the leopards in the village are on an increasing trend since past couple of years and the locals are residing in constant fears of being attacked by the leopards.
“Many cattle from the village have gone missing including dogs and poultry birds,” informed Anil.
Meanwhile, the villagers have called the Forest Department officials for preventive measures for the safety of the villagers.
The locals informed that the leopards are prominently seen in the surrounding areas of Aparant Iron and Steel Factory in Costi Village, particularly in the late evening hours. The team of the Forest Department officials applauded the villagers’ presence of mind in safely latching the leopard inside the toilet without causing it any harm.
