130 schools in S. India closed over leopard scare

More than 130 schools in the southern Indian state of Karnataka's capital Bengaluru were closed Thursday after three leopards strayed into the campus of one of the schools in the last three days.

While one male leopard was spotted inside the Vibgyor school Sunday, two other big cats were found loitering near the same school Tuesday. The male leopard has been captured by state forest department officials, however, two others are still on the run.

According to the forest department official, the male leopard must have entered the school compound by jumping over the boundary wall the school shares with a forest.

"In the wake of the leopard scare, some 134 schools in the city have been shut. We will take a decision whether to reopen them Friday, after a meeting in the evening," a senior government official said, on condition of anonymity.

There are around 14,000 leopards in India. These cats are increasingly venturing into populated areas as their habitats are being depleted.