A leopard attack in Gangavadi village killed four cows, triggering panic and renewed calls for urgent wildlife intervention.
Yelandur
A tragic incident highlighting the growing man-animal conflict was reported from Yelandur taluk, where a leopard leapt over a wire fence and killed four cows in Gangavadi village. The incident has left local farmers shaken and raised serious concerns over safety, livestock protection, and the effectiveness of preventive measures taken by the forest department.
According to villagers, the leopard entered the cattle shed area under the cover of darkness and attacked the animals despite the presence of a wire fence. The four cows, belonging to farmer Ramayya, were found dead by morning, bearing clear signs of a leopard attack. The incident has intensified fear among residents, many of whom depend entirely on agriculture and dairy farming for their livelihoods.
Following the incident, A. R. Krishnamurthy, the MLA from Kollegal, visited Gangavadi village on Sunday to inspect the site and interact with the affected family. During his visit, he reviewed the damage, spoke to forest officials, and listened to the grievances of farmers who have been repeatedly raising alarms about leopard movement in the area.
Farmer Ramayya, speaking to the MLA, said dairy farming was the sole source of income for his family. Out of my five cows, four have been killed. We have been reporting leopard movement for the last three to four months. If the forest department had acted seriously earlier, this tragedy could have been avoided, he said, expressing deep distress over the loss.
Responding to the situation, MLA A.R. Krishnamurthy directed forest officials to immediately initiate steps to capture the leopard. He stressed that protecting farmers, their families, and their livestock was a priority and instructed authorities to install cages, deploy surveillance, and intensify night patrols in and around vulnerable villages.
He also assured the affected family of compensation as per government norms and urged officials to process relief without delay. Human and wildlife safety must go hand in hand. Preventive measures should be strengthened to avoid repeated incidents, the MLA said. The incident underscores the increasing frequency of human-wildlife conflict in the forest-bordering regions of Chamarajanagar district.