Coimbatore: One more stray leopard trapped, let out into forest

Coimbatore: While the Forest department here trans-located two elephants and a leopard from the Coimbatore forest division recently, yet another leopard was trans-located on Saturday.

According to DFO Venkatesh, a couple of months ago, farmers sighted a leopard near Kaalimangalam area close to the forest fringes. Responding to the farmers’ demand, the Forest department installed a cage and trapped the leopard, which was later trans-located.

Meanwhile, farmers of Thonadamuthoor — Eruttupalam, a couple of months ago, had sighted another leopard at the foothills of Pachinampathy, close to the Western Ghats.

Following frequent sightings of the leopard, panic-stricken villagers began to pressure the Forest department demanding trapping and relocation of the carnivore.

After continuous petitions, the forest department installed a trap on January 26, at the foothills.

A few farmers crossing the stretch on Saturday morning had noticed a leopard trapped inside the cage and informed the Forest officials.

Forest department staff led by Madhukkarai range officer confirmed the animal to be a male estimated to be around seven-years-old.

The trapped animal was transported to the Thengumarahada forest in Banaari forest range and released in an undisturbed terrain, added the DFO.