Mundgod: A leopard was spotted near Bachanaki reservoir in Mundgod taluk on Monday early morning.

The leopard was spotted by the driver and passengers of a Hubballi-Mangaluru State transport bus when it was crossing the road. On spotting the big cat, the driver reduced the speed of the bus and showed the leopard to the passengers. The bus proceeded further after the leopard went into the forest.

"The driver of our bus saw the leopard crossing the road at around 4:00 am. He then woke the passengers up and showed the leopard", said Raghavendra Kolhapur, a passenger.

This is for the second time that the leopard was being spotted on this route in the last 15 days. A few days back, two persons riding their bike had spotted the leopard near Arishingeri Cross. The Forest Department had also received information about the leopard spotting near the city farm on the outskirts of Mundgod.

"In the wake of the spotting of the leopard, the people staying in the villages on the forest fringes would be alerted through town-crying. If needed, a cage would be placed to capture the leopard", said Assistant Conservator of Forest G R Shashidhar.