Bengaluru: In a dramatic and prolonged five-day ordeal, forest officials in Bengaluru resorted to shooting a leopard that had been roaming in various parts of the city’s southern region since Saturday.

The leopard was eventually captured near Kudlu Gate, close to Electronics City, but tragically succumbed to a bullet wound sustained during the capture. According to reports, one of the forest department officials fired the fatal shot.

SS Lingaraju, Bengaluru’s urban chief conservator of forests, informed reporters that the decision to kill the animal was made when it posed a threat to human life. “We have the permission to shoot if the wild animal becomes a danger to human life,” he stated.

The elusive leopard had been spotted multiple times on the outskirts of Bengaluru, prompting the forest department to deploy two cages in an effort to capture the big cat only days before the fatal incident.

Wildlife encounters within urban areas can pose serious risks, and authorities must sometimes make difficult decisions to ensure the safety of the human population. While it is a tragic outcome for the leopard, it reflects the challenging balance between conserving wildlife and safeguarding human lives in densely populated regions. The incident underscores the importance of wildlife management strategies that prioritize the safe relocation of wild animals whenever possible, mitigating such unfortunate outcomes.

Wildlife conservation efforts must continue to ensure that urbanization and wildlife coexist harmoniously, respecting the delicate ecosystems of our cities.

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