Microchip inserted in captured leopards to track movements

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Mysuru: The Leopard Task Force set up by the state government to check the rise in leopardman conflicts in several districts of the State will start function - ing in Mysuru district within ten days. Four persons have died in T.Narasipur taluk in the last two months in leopard attacks.

According to Deputy Conserva - tor of Forests, Dr.K.N.Basavaraj, five vehicles will be supplied to the task force to function in five differ - ent places. The force will function under the command of the Deputy Conservator of Forests.

As many as forty personnel have been ap - pointed to work in the task force. In the wake of an increase in leopard attacks, the number of complaints from the general public on the menace has also increased. So the government wil be purchasing an additional 30 cages besides the 30 which it already has.

Wherever leopards are spotted, the cage will be placed for 10-15 days to try and nab it. It has also been decided to buy two large-sized cages. In the last one month, four leopards have been captured, and in the last four years, 65 leopards were nabbed. The captured leopards are fixed with a microchip which will help monitor their movements.

Likewise, CCTVs will be installed to record their whereabouts and capture them by launching an operation. The Forest Department does not have definite information about the number of leopards in the district and has decided to undertake a baseline survey.

Once the leopard task force commences work, the survey will be undertaken in the villages of Nanjangud, T.Narasipur, and H.D. Kote taluks of Mysuru district. Forest officials said some mischievous elements are sending messages on social media to mislead people.