Manipura (Udupi district): A leopard cub that had fallen into a garden well near the CSI Church in Manipura village was rescued on Tuesday after a two-hour-long operation.
The incident occurred at the residence of Jacob Sequeira, brother of Manipura gram panchayat vice-president John Sequeira. Jacob discovered the trapped animal when he went to inspect his malfunctioning water pump. Locals immediately alerted the forest department.
The Rescue
Forest officials, assisted by NGO activist Akshay Shetty and local residents, mounted a careful rescue operation. The cub, identified as a 2–3-year-old female, was safely lifted from the well using specialized equipment.
Following the rescue, the cub was released back into the wild at the Someshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, ensuring it could return to its natural habitat.
Officials Involved
The operation was conducted under the guidance of RFO Warijakshi, with active participation from deputy range forest officer Shivananda and forest guards Devaraj Paan, Ramachandra Nayak, Srinivas Jogi, Manjunath, and Akhilesh.
Forest officials praised the cooperation of villagers, stressing the importance of community involvement in wildlife conservation.