Leopard caged in Tirunelveli

Bethani Pillai hamlet is located close to the Western Ghats and had been facing the problem of intrusion of wild animals like leopard and bear most often. Owing to shortage in food, leopards used to enter the hamlets and villages adjoining the Western Ghats quite often. On December 13, a leopard which had strayed into the hamlet was caged. It had been threatening the residents of Pethanpillai hamlet and other villages nearby and had killed several goats and dogs for food. 

Following that, people of the villages had demanded the Forest Department to trap it. A cage was setup and a leopard was caught at Pethanpillai. But death of goats and cows continued in the region. Hence the villagers doubted the spresence of another animal and demanded the Forest Department to once again place a cage to trap the animal. Following the demand of the villagers, a cage was placed and on Sunday the leopard which had killed the dogs and goats was finally caught. The cage with the leopard was taken to a dense forest and the animal was left free by the officials of Forest Department.