Leopard on the prowl scares villagers near Thuraiyur
Mr Satheesh said the animal’s footprints are not clear
By : R. Valayapathy
Update: 2015-06-04 06:17 GMT
Thuraiyur: People in several villages near here, including Sighalanthapuram and Kalipatti, have been spending sleepless nights for the past two days as an unidentified wild animal, a suspected panther, moving in the area has been causing panic. Official sources said that on Tuesday morning an engineering student spotted what looked like a panther at a field in Singhalanthapuram, ran into the village and informed the villagers about its movement. But they did not believe his words.
But on Wednesday morning, villagers to their shock discovered it was true as they found five goats of one Mrs Ponammal of the village found dead with bleeding injuries. They then informed the matter to Forest and Revenue department officials. District Forest officer, Tiruchy, V. Satheesh told DC that on information, he had deputed a team of forest officials including R. Ravikrishnan, Forest ranger Thuraiyur, to visit the village and collect footprints of the wild animal, suspected to be a panther besides taking other precautionary measures.
Mr Satheesh said the animal’s footprints are not clear, as the area where they collected them was deep dry. However, with the available footprint marks, the department is taking all steps to catch the animal.
He said a cage was being transported from Sathyamangalam, which will reach Singhalanthapuram soon. The cage would be positioned by tonight at the same spot where the animal killed the goats, he added.