An eight-year-old male leopard died after Forest Department officials opened fire to protect their rescue staff near Byrapura, Tarikere in Chikkamagaluru on Friday. The animal was responsible for the death of five-year-old Sanvi and attacks on two others in the region. The leopard attacked 10-year-old Harish near Byrapura on November 28, and a resident of Nandi village, Rajashekharappa, on November 23. The injured boy is under treatment at McGann Hospital in Shivamogga. After Sanvi’s death in November, the Forest Department began efforts to capture the leopard using cages. Locals across 8 to 10 km lived in fear of the animal near human settlements. Officials obtained permission to capture the leopard live or dead. They mobilized three trained elephants from Sakrebailu elephant camp, and veterinarians from Mangaluru, Bandipur, Bannerghatta, and Tyavarekoppa Zoo joined the operation. Leopard and elephant task forces from Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru also helped. When the staff spotted the leopard near shrubs, Dr. Yashaswi from Mangaluru prepared to tranquilize it. But the leopard ran towards the team, forcing them to open fire to protect staff. The carcass was found away from the shooting spot. Bhadravathi DCF B.M. Ravindra Kumar said, "The post-mortem and procedures will follow National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines."