1 held for panther death near Ooty

Ooty: One person was held for killing a panther by setting up a metal snare in a tea estate near here, even as greens wanted the foresters to have periodical surprise raids in the rural limits to check this type of  threat to wild animals.

Forest officials attached to the Kundah range in Nilgiris forest division received information about a carcass of a panther lying amidst the tea bushes in a private tea estate  in Kottakkal area along Manjakombai near here.  

On Thursday, the forest team who rushed to the spot upon investigation found metal wire around the carcass. It showed that this female panther aged about four-years got trapped inside the snare kept amidst the tea bushes there and died.

Forest sources said that upon further investigation, they nabbed one T.Rajendran, residing in Kottakal area for setting up the snare.

“Investigation revealed that he set up the snare to trap wild boars and other small animals for its meat.  Unfortunately, the panther got trapped in the snare and died” sources said, adding, as snaring wild animals is a crime under Wildlife Protection Act, the accused was arrested and sent to custody. Meanwhile, Mr. B.K.Kumaran, president of the Nilgiris Ecology and Animals Protection Samithi, wanted the foresters to form a team and goin for surprise raids in select remote pockets to check this menace.