A routine check for a captured leopard turned into a harrowing ordeal for a villager in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. In a bizarre and frightening incident, a man found himself trapped inside the very cage set up to catch a big cat, spending an entire night locked in before being rescued.
A Frightening Night in a Predator's Cage
The incident unfolded in Bheemanahalli village, located in the Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Forest department officials had installed a cage trap in the area following reports of leopard movement, a common practice to capture and relocate animals involved in human-wildlife conflict. The trap is designed with a door that shuts automatically when an animal enters to take the bait.
On the night of Tuesday, April 29, a local villager approached the cage. According to officials, he likely went to check if an animal had been captured. In a moment of terrible misfortune, the mechanism triggered, and the door slammed shut behind him, locking him inside the sturdy metal enclosure meant for a powerful leopard.
The Rescue Operation and Official Response
The trapped villager spent the entire night confined in the cage. His plight was discovered only the following morning, Wednesday, April 30, when other villagers or forest staff came upon the scene. The sight of a man inside the leopard trap prompted immediate action.
Forest department personnel rushed to the location and successfully unlocked the cage, freeing the shaken but physically unharmed villager. He received a medical check-up as a precaution. Hanur Range Forest Officer (RFO) Manjunath confirmed the details of the incident, stating that the man was released from the trap and is safe.
Highlighting the Human-Wildlife Conflict Challenge
This alarming accident throws a stark light on the persistent and dangerous reality of human-wildlife conflict in regions bordering forests. Chamarajanagar, with its rich forest cover, frequently reports sightings and conflicts involving leopards and elephants. While cage traps are a standard tool for forest departments, this incident reveals an unexpected risk to the local human population.
The forest department has not indicated if any changes will be made to trap protocols or safety warnings for villagers following this event. The incident serves as a critical reminder of the delicate and often dangerous balance between human habitation and wildlife conservation. It underscores the need for continued vigilance, public awareness, and innovative solutions to ensure the safety of both communities and animals.
Fortunately, this story had a safe conclusion. However, it leaves behind pressing questions about mitigation strategies and safety measures in areas where human lives intersect closely with the territories of wild predators.
