Udupi: Some amount of panic in the Manipal University campus onTuesday, April 8 night  after a leopard strayed into the campus, turned into a sigh of relief on Wednesday, April 9 after the animal was trapped and caged by forest officials. The forest officials have decided to release the animal in the Kudremukh National Forest area.

Those inside the campus first saw the leopard on Tuesday night. However, when it was again seen the next morning, the forest officials were informed without any delay.

However, the operation led by Satish Babu Rai, ACF and Sheena Kottary was delayed as the officials were initially not fully equipped to trap the leopard. Sources said the leopard entered one staff quarters and while it was coming out of the second quarters it was netted. It is learnt, it had entered the quarters after being lured by bones and chicken.

Udupi SP Dr Boralingaiah, circle inspector Maruthi Nayak, forest officer Keshava Poojary and others too arrived at the University campus and monitored the situation as a huge crowd including students as well as locals thronged the place on coming to know about the presence of leopard.