Residents of villages near Mettupalayam are living in fear as leopards from Sennimalai Karadu forest area prey on livestock. Increased leopard activity in recent months has led to attacks on cattle and goats.
Coimbatore: Residents of villages near Mettupalayam are living in fear as leopards from the Sennimalai Karadu forest area have been increasingly preying on livestock in recent months.
The affected villages, including Arivoli Nagar, Vellipalayam, Karattumedu, and Mottaipalayam, are located at the foothills of Sennimalai Karadu forest, which falls under the Sirumugai forest range.
The leopard activity has significantly increased in these areas over the past few months, targeting farm animals such as goats and cattle. In the last two months, there have been reports of leopards carrying away goats and injuring cows. In one incident, a calf belonging to Thulasiyammal from Arivoli Nagar was attacked by a leopard, sustaining severe injuries to its neck and back.
Villagers have also reported cases of leopards preying on guard dogs. Last month, a video surfaced showing a leopard entering an agricultural garden in Vellipalayam village, further confirming the increased presence of these big cats in the area.
The local residents are urging the Forest Department to take immediate action to capture the leopards using cages. They fear for the safety of both humans and livestock as the leopard attacks continue unabated.
In response to the growing concern, Mettupalayam MLA AK Selvaraj conducted an inspection in the Arivoli Nagar area last night. Residents complained about the leopard movement and the threat it poses to the public. Following this, the MLA contacted Mettupalayam Forest Department officials and instructed them to take immediate steps to capture the leopard.
The Forest Department is expected to intensify its efforts to address the situation and ensure the safety of the villagers and their livestock in the affected areas near Mettupalayam.
The affected villages, including Arivoli Nagar, Vellipalayam, Karattumedu, and Mottaipalayam, are located at the foothills of Sennimalai Karadu forest, which falls under the Sirumugai forest range.
The leopard activity has significantly increased in these areas over the past few months, targeting farm animals such as goats and cattle. In the last two months, there have been reports of leopards carrying away goats and injuring cows. In one incident, a calf belonging to Thulasiyammal from Arivoli Nagar was attacked by a leopard, sustaining severe injuries to its neck and back.
Villagers have also reported cases of leopards preying on guard dogs. Last month, a video surfaced showing a leopard entering an agricultural garden in Vellipalayam village, further confirming the increased presence of these big cats in the area.
The local residents are urging the Forest Department to take immediate action to capture the leopards using cages. They fear for the safety of both humans and livestock as the leopard attacks continue unabated.
In response to the growing concern, Mettupalayam MLA AK Selvaraj conducted an inspection in the Arivoli Nagar area last night. Residents complained about the leopard movement and the threat it poses to the public. Following this, the MLA contacted Mettupalayam Forest Department officials and instructed them to take immediate steps to capture the leopard.
The Forest Department is expected to intensify its efforts to address the situation and ensure the safety of the villagers and their livestock in the affected areas near Mettupalayam.