Mysuru: A leopardess, aged about one-and-a-half years which hid inside a roadside drain after seeing villagers, died of suspected suffocation and alleged delay in rescuing it by the Forest Department at Royal Care Layout near Gowhalli on the outskirts of city yesterday.
It is learnt that the leopardess, was seen by a shepherd at the Layout at about 12 noon who informed the villagers. Soon hundreds of villagers began to arrive at the spot and the leopardess took shelter inside a roadside drain nearby out of fear. The villagers then blocked both the openings of the drain to prevent the animal from escaping and immediately informed the Forest Department officials.
