A five year old leopard which had killed a woman on Friday in the hill town of Valparai was finally captured on Saturday after forest officials laid a trap for the animal. The cage was placed by Forest Department at Cinchona first division tea estate.
Following its capture, the Leopard was released into the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve on Sunday
Officials who were part of the operation said the captured leopard could be the one that killed M. Kailasavathy, 52, of Kanjamalai estate on Friday evening and critically injured B. Madhavi, 45.
“Visuals from several camera traps kept in the area and other evidence, such as pug marks, showed that a single leopard had been venturing into human habitations in Cinchona first division and nearby areas. It is the same animal that has been trapped,” said V. Ganesan, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
The trap was placed after Valparai residents launched a series of protests seeking protection.
Source: The Hindu