Rare leopard rescued after two days in well

S N Godamunna, Gampola group corr

Wildlife officials faced the wrath of residents in Weralugolla, Nawalapitiya for taking two days to rescue a rare species of leopard which had fallen into a well in a homegarden in the village.

The animal had fallen into a well a owned by K Liyanagama on February 12 night and Liyanagama had alerted the Nawalapitiya Police and the Wildlife Department offices at Minipe, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya the following morning.

Two officers from the Nuwara Eliya Wildlife office arrived at the spot on February 13 noon but they were unable to tranquilize and rescue the animal for want of a cage to remove it safety.

By this time hundreds of people from surrounding villages who had got wind of the leopard’s plight had flocked to the scene for curiosity sake.

Nawalapitya Police OIC Udaya Wickremasekara had to post his men to ensure the animal’s security.

The same night Veterinary Surgeon Dr W A Dharmakeerthi of the Wilgamuwa Range office arrived with a cage around 7.30 pm but he said the animal could not be rescued immediately as the use of tranquilizers is prohibited at night after 6 pm.

Dr Dharmakeerthi spent the night in the village and took steps to tranquilize and rescue the leopard and take it away to the wildlife office in a vehicle after putting it inside a cage.