-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM, JUNE 24 A wild cat has struck once again in Bicholim on Wednesday night, killing a calf at Wavti-Vathadev, Bicholim. According to reports, the leopard attacked a calf belonging to one Nilesh Nigalye from Wavti. At about 2.30 am on Wednesday, the Nigalye family heard some commotion in their cowshed and rushed to the site, only to see the wild cat attacking their calf. “When the beam of torch fell on the wild cat, the animal jumped over the fence and ran into the jungle,” Animal Rescue Squad Chief Amrut Singh told Herald. When the leopard attacked the calf, the calf was seriously injured on its neck and was struggling for life. As the wounds were deep and the calf had already lost a lot of blood, it died in the morning. It may be recalled that leopard attack in Wavti and surrounding areas is now a common affair. In May, calf belonging to Ashok Sawaikar, Jitendra Sawaikar and Govekar was killed by the wild cat. Besides, dogs belonging to Anil Govekar, Pandurang Gawde and others had escaped from the clutches of the wild cat. Meanwhile, the trap which the forest department had laid earlier to catch the leopard after the attack on one Pandurang Tulaskar (45) from Pistewada-Nanoda, Bicholim, is still lying near the village.
