Leopard that killed two, injured three others, captured

Forest Department captures leopard that killed two persons, including a child, in Pandalur after tense protests.

Forest Department officials on Sunday tranquilised and captured the leopard that recently killed two persons, including a child, near Mango Range in Pandalur.

Officials confirmed that the animal was hit with a tranquiliser dart in a swampy area near Mango Range in Pandalur, and are assessing its health parameters.

The leopard is believed to have attacked three women on December 21, leading to the death of one of them, Saritha, a few days later. The animal also attacked a four-year-old child in the area on January 4, prompting the Chief Wildlife Warden to issue instructions to tranquilise and relocate the animal.

On Saturday, the leopard struck again, attacking and killing another child, Nancy, the daughter of tea estate workers, near the Mango Range.

Forest Veterinarian Rajesh Kumar, who visited the incident spot to collect blood and hair samples, too, came under the attack of the animal. However, it was chased away, after which forest teams approached it once again to inject a sedative. This led to it fleeing the area.

Meanwhile, residents, irate at the Department over Nancy’s death, on Saturday evening blocked roads, impeding the movement of officials and their vehicles in the operation to capture the animal on the prowl.