Thu Feb 06 05:34:07 UTC 2025: ## Leopard Escapes Tranquilizer Dart in Kasaragod
**KASARAGOD, KERALA –** A leopard that had been trapped in a snare inside a tunnel in Kasaragod, Kerala, escaped capture despite being shot with a tranquilizer dart early Thursday morning. The incident occurred on private land in Bedadka grama panchayat after a local woman reported seeing the leopard on Wednesday evening.
A team from the Forest Department, including a rapid response team and a veterinarian, arrived to secure the animal. A net and cage were set up around the tunnel, but the leopard broke free around 3:30 a.m. According to Divisional Forest Officer K. Ashraf, the tranquilizer dart may not have hit the leopard in the correct location. Heavy fog further hampered search efforts.
Authorities plan to form a committee in accordance with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines to seek permission for another trapping attempt. District Collector K. Inbasekar has also scheduled a meeting with panchayat members to discuss the ongoing issue of human-wildlife conflict. The search for the leopard continues.
First Piper 