Leopard strolls into medical college quarters in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar

CHAMARAJANAGAR: The Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences had a spotted visitor prowling around its premises on Wednesday night. A leopard slipped into the campus and was seen roaming along the corridors of the staff’s official quarters before disappearing into the forest near the campus.
The big cat entered the first floor of the building around 9.30pm where eight families live.It crept up the stairs and walked around the corridor. A worker in the block sighted the big cat and yelled, alerting other residents. The leopard then slipped into the forest.
The medical college is located near Yedabetta, a forest area, which is around 6km from Chamarajanagar town. The arrival of the animal which was caught on CCTV camera has given residents the fright of their lives.
Medical Institute dean Dr GM Sanjeev said since the campus is close to the forest, sightings of big cats and spotted deer are common.
“We have seen leopards outside and inside the campus on earlier occasions too, and we have got used to it. But this is the first time that a big cat has entered the building where our staff reside,” he added. About 24 families live on the block which has three floors. “The leopard seems to have entered the block from the main entrance that was open and crept stealthily along the corridors of the first floor where about eight families, including me, stay,” said Dr Sanjeev, adding that usually the gate is kept closed.
Big cat found dead
A decomposed body of a leopard was found near a quarry at Halepura village in Chamarajanagar taluk. Forest officials suspected the leopard may have been killed two days ago. The cause is yet to be known.