KOLLAM: The villagers along eastern Kollam, including Thenmala and Arayankavu, are living in fear of wild animals after many domestic animals were killed by leopards recently. Nearly 100 cases of leopard attacks were reported from the area in two years. The drying up of water sources inside the forest that shares the border with human settlements is the main reason for the frequent animal attacks and the entry of wild elephants into human settlements.
In the latest incident, a cow owned by Mohandas of Santhosh Bhavan near Thenmala panchayat office was killed by a leopard. The villagers had earlier spotted leopards at Padam, Kaduvamoola, Iruteera and Kaithakettu near Pathanapuram. The forest department had trapped a leopard near Padam area at Iruttuthara on the forest border at Pathanapuram three weeks back. The officials have also found more pugmarks of leopards.
"The animals have also been spotted in the catchment area of Thenmala dam, which is also under the eco-tourism project, posing a threat to tourists. The residents of the area have stopped going out during night. Several dogs, along with cattle, were eaten up by leopards. Last week, the carcass of a leopard was found at Nedumpara here. There are more leopards prowling in the area and the forest officials are also helpless," Kannan Thenmala, a resident, told DC.
The solar fencing set up by the department in areas of man-animal conflict has not stopped animals from entering human settlements. The solar fencing has been set up in areas, including Kulathupuzha, Thenmala, Ottakkal, Urukunnu, Mambazhathara, Cherukadavu, and Aryankavu regions where human - animal conflict is at its peak. The villagers demand fencing in Chenagiri and Muruganpanchal areas where attack by elephants,
