Leopard spotting rumour shuts Bangalore school

The Vibgyor school in Bangalore's Whitefield locality was shut on Wednesday after school authorities were informed of rumours that another leopard had been spotted in the area. On Sunday, a leopard had entered the school premises and injured at least three members of the forest department.

"There was a rumour that a leopard was seen in the area. As a precautionary measure , we cancelled classes for the day and informed parents through text messages," Roshan D'souza, principal of Vibgyor school in Marathahalli , told International Business Times, India edition.

Forest officials were informed on Tuesday that a leopard had been spotted in the area, the Press Trust of India reported. Some reports said that two leopards were spotted, but a forest official told PTI they had confirmation of only one sighting. 

The Vibgyor school principal told IBTimes India he was aware a search operation was on, on Wednesday. 

"We will take a call if the school will reopen on Thursday. As of now, the school is closed today," D'souza said. 

Residents in the area are reportedly in panic after an eight-year-old male leopard entered the school on Sunday and strolled around the corridors and near the swimming pool. The animal injured forest department officials who managed to tranquilise it only after a 10-hour-long struggle. The leopard was taken to the Bannerghatta Rescue Centre. 

No school staff had been injured in the incident, D'souza said. 

Vibgyor school is now taking precautionary measures to ensure no animal enters the premises. 

"We are working to increase the height of the boundary wall. We are also in consultation with the the forest department," D'souza said.