Caged panthers released into the wild by Tirunelveli forest personnel

Three panthers captured near Papanasam released into the wild, ensuring safety for villagers and animals.

Three panthers caged by the forest department near Papanasam in Tirunelveli district were released into the wild on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

The first panther was caged at Vembaiahpuram on last Saturday (May 18) while two more big cats were caught at Vembaiahpuram and Anavankudiyiruppu on Tuesday night (May 21) and early Wednesday. On Thursday, the cages were loaded on to tractors and were taken to the Western Ghats to release the panthers back into the jungle.

“Since the caged panthers would be uncomfortable if they see humans near the cage, tarpaulins were used to hide the animals from seeing anyone of us standing nearby. Moreover, this would also ensure we avoided causing injuries to the caged animal,” M. Ilayaraja Deputy Director of Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve’s Ambasamudram Division, said.

While the first and the third panthers were released beyond Manimuthar Dam, the second one has found its new home beyond Mundanthurai.  

The residents of Vembaiahpuram and Anavankudiyiruppu near Papanasam, who had sleepless nights after the frequently visiting panthers were lifting their cattle, heaved a sigh of relief now as the forest personnel have successfully caged the visiting beasts after meticulously planning the operation.