Pugmark trails, thermal drone eyes, wildlife detection dogs, skilled marksmen and a relentless pursuit. All this went into identifying, tracking and undertaking the unprecedented and unavoidable measure of neutralising the suspected maneater leopard by shooting the animal dead. The action followed massive public outrage over three deaths including two children in incidents of human-leopard conflict in Shirur taluka that led to arson and a highway blockade.

The male leopard aged above five years was shot dead after attempts were made to tranquilise it with a dart but the animal turned aggressive and charged at the team leaving them no option but to open fire around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, forest officials said.

The backdrop

In the past 20 days, in the villages of Pimparkhed and Jambut of Sh

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