Child-killer leopard trapped in Valparai

Tea estate labourers had spent sleepless nights after the animal killed Saidul Islam, a native of Assam, while he was playing in front of his house at Nadumalai Estate. The leopard, which emerged from the dark, had pounced on the boy and dragged him into the bushes right in front of his petrified mother on February 8. After a search, the labourers had found the boy’s body with a severed neck, near his house. 

According to the Forest Department, the captured male leopard was aged about five. Under immense pressure, the department had set up a cage with a dog in it as a live bait to trap the leopard. The cage was placed near the spot where the boy’s body was discovered. Cameras were also placed to monitor the movement of the leopard and a team of Forest Department staff maintained a vigil. 

Over the last two days, the leopard was caught on camera wandering near the cage, but remained elusive. But, around 4.30 am on Wednesday, the animal was found trapped in the cage. A team of Forest officials led by Valparai Forest Ranger Sakthivel rescued the dog from the cage. After the leopard was tranquilised, it was transported to the Manampalli Forest Range on a lorry. The animal was then released into the reserve forests at Mandirimattam area.