Ramesh Desai, deputy conservator of forests, wildlife division, South, Margao, speaking to ToI, said, "Wild animals like leopards are seen nowadays in areas of human settlements since they are facing a shortage of food and their natural habitat too is threatened. In villages, dogs and cattle become easy prey for them. We have to protect the natural habitat of leopards."

Vishwanath Pingulkar, the range forest officer of Cotigao said, "Since January 19, 2008 to July 6, 2013 our forest officials by using traps have caught the leopards and taken them back into their habitat. Whenever they were injured, we referred them to the Bondla wildlife rehabilitation centre." Out of the 15 leopards rescued so far, one leopard was from the Netravali sanctuary where as the rest of them were from the Cotigao sanctuary and Canacona.

Devdash Gaonkar from Baddey, Cotigao speaking to TOI said, "The natural habitat of leopards is already threatened due to increasing deforestation, poaching and encroachments from villagers living in and around the forest and wildlife sanctuary areas." Gaondongorim lies amidst the Netravali and Cotigao sanctuaries and Dandeli-Anshi tiger reserve of Karnataka

A female leopard which was caught at Shristhal in Gaondongorim was brought to Hattipaul wildlife rescue centre. But, it died on July 19 as it was badly injured. Prashant Naik, a veterinarian, said that the leopard could have died as it was beaten with an iron weapon or rod in the attempt to save its victim Vithoba Gaonkar.