A leopard injured in a road accident attacked a forest department worker during a rescue operation near Anagodu village on National Highway 48 in Davangere district on Tuesday morning, September 8, 2026, according to Prajavani.
The five-year-old male leopard had reportedly been struck by a vehicle while crossing the highway on Monday night. Forest department staff received information about the injured animal on Tuesday morning and reached the roadside to capture it safely.
During the operation, the leopard, which was in distress, suddenly lunged at forest department employee Marulasiddappa. The animal bit and injured him before other personnel at the site intervened and moved him to a hospital for treatment.
A team of forest staff from Hosapete in Vijayanagara district later administered a sedative to the leopard. After it lost consciousness, the animal received preliminary treatment before being transported to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zoological Park near Hampi, also known as Hampi Zoo.
Davangere Assistant Conservator of Forests Anand B. said the leopard had suffered an injury to its spinal cord in the collision. He said the animal became aggressive and attacked after being disturbed by shouting from people at the site.
The official said the leopard had been shifted to Hampi Zoo for further treatment. A decision on whether it can eventually be released back into the forest will be taken after its condition is assessed, he said.
Karnataka minister K.S. Basavannappa visited the hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured forest department employee. Further treatment and rehabilitation arrangements for the leopard will be determined by the forest department after its medical evaluation.
