COONOOR: A wild panther that strayed into Halakkarai village limits near Coonoor scared villagers and they want the forest department to chalk out plans to capture and relocate the panther. The movement of a sloth bear with its two cubs in the tea gardens in and around Halakkarai village about a month ago, had similarly triggered panic among residents.
The affected villagers said that for the few days, a well built panther was seen moving around the nearby tea garden and basking in the sun, sitting upon a boulder near the village.
Though it has not harmed humans or livestock in the village, it has triggered panic among village residents. Villagers feel that it may try to enter human settlements in the village limits to hunt cattle and other livestock reared in the village.
This may escalate man-animal conflict in the village limits. Village residents want the forest department to place cages at necessary points to capture the panther and relocate it.
