The big cat that kept forest officials on tenterhooks for about 15 hours before it was finally shot dead may have strayed either from vegetated patches in defence land or the Bannerghatta forest area. With a broken canine tooth, the animal had ventured into urban landscape in search of easy prey.
The male leopard, aged between 10 and 12 years, first spotted on Saturday night at 4th cross in AECS Layout near M.S. Dhoni Global School in Kudlu gate, was shot dead on Wednesday. The Forest Department said they killed the leopard after exhausting every option after it attacked two personnel in the team deployed for the capture.
The aging leopard, which had a broken tooth, was incapable of hunting in its habitat. Driven by survival instincts, the cat lurked out of the woods to hunt stray dogs. The animal may had been starving, officials added.
