Leopard hit by car attacks forest official during rescue in Karnataka

An injured leopard attacked a forest department official while a rescue team was trying to capture and treat the animal after it was allegedly hit by a car on a highway in Karnataka's Davanagere district on Tuesday, officials said. The incident was recorded on video and has been widely shared on social media.

Officials said the leopard was found lying on the highway after the collision. A forest department team was then sent to the spot to rescue the animal. During the operation, the leopard suddenly charged at a forest department watcher before later being secured and taken for treatment.

A senior forest officer said a veterinary doctor had been trying to sedate and tranquilise the leopard, which was initially calm. However, a crowd gathered nearby and started shouting while taking photographs and videos, which officials suspect made the animal aggressive. Before the sedative could take full effect, the leopard attacked one of the officials, he said.

The video showed the leopard jumping on the officer and knocking him to the ground. His colleagues quickly stepped in and used a stick to distract the animal, allowing the officer to get back on his feet. The leopard then moved away from the officials and ran towards a grassy area beside the highway.

Officials said the forest team later managed to secure the injured leopard and transport it to a hospital. The injured official, a watcher in the forest department, suffered scratches on his left hand and leg. "He is stated to be stable and has been kept under observation at the hospital for a day. He is expected to be discharged tomorrow," the officer said.

The leopard is now being treated at a rescue centre for injuries suffered after it was hit by the car and is stated to be stable, officials added. The rescue operation left both the animal and the injured watcher under medical care, but officials said both are stable.