A leopard which strayed into a village near Puttur chasing its prey, fell into a dry well at Valakadame Padaccharu in Koila, forest officials said.
More than 30 forest department staff struggled to capture the leopard for about two hours after laying a trap outside the well. But when the animal came out of the well it managed to slip from the trap and escaped into the overgrowth, the sources said.
They said the leopard might have come from the reserve forest in nearby Shanthigodu.
The forest officials arrived on the spot on receiving information from the local people. They barricaded the well and set trap for the animal but their attempt turned futile.
Kadaba police have tightened the security in the area.
