A young female leopard was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road near Turahalli Forest Reserve in southwest Bengaluru on Wednesday morning, causing a temporary traffic standstill as the startled animal sought refuge under a BMTC bus.
Devaki DS, the conductor of the bus en route from Kengeri to Banashankari, recounted how their driver spotted the leopard cub crossing the road after being hit by a motorcycle. Acting swiftly, the driver halted the bus and attempted to assist the injured cub by sprinkling water on it. However, in its panic, the cub leaped towards the driver and then sought shelter under the bus’s battery box near the footboard, remaining there for about half an hour until forest department personnel arrived for rescue.
An eyewitness, Harshita Sudhish, who was on her way to pick up her children, described witnessing the incident and promptly alerting the People for Animals Wildlife Hospital. Responding promptly, a team of rescuers and veterinarians managed to extract the leopard from its hiding spot. Colonel Dr. Navaz Shariff, the chief wildlife veterinarian at PfA Wildlife Hospital, described the challenging extraction process and noted the leopard’s apparent shock and fear.
Subsequently, the leopard, weighing 9.5kg and displaying no signs of injury despite the collision, was transported to the wildlife hospital for examination. Dr. Madhav HV, part of the rescue team, affirmed the leopard’s good health and confirmed its release back into its natural habitat during the night, in coordination with state forest department officials.
The incident underscores the need for vigilance on roads traversing wildlife habitats, highlighting the importance of swift action and collaboration between concerned authorities and citizens to ensure the safety and well-being of both wildlife and humans in urban environments like Bengaluru.
