Erode: A fully-grown leopard strayed into human habitation in search of food and water near Sathyamangalam on late Wednesday night. The animal came from the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and went inside the STR in the early hours of Thursday.
M Senthil Kumar, 39, spotted the leopard when he was returning home at Kombupallam near Sathyamangalam in a truck. "I was returning from Thalawadi after unloading goods," Senthil Kumar said. He said suddenly the leopard crossed the road after straying for a while on the roadside.
Senthil Kumar stopped the truck and took photos using his mobile phone. He also stopped other vehicles from going near the animal.
Senthil Kumar also alerted forest officials in STR. Before the officials could reach the spot, the leopard vanished into the forest.
Speaking to TOI, a forest official attached to STR said the forest department was taking all steps to prevent wild animals from entering human habitants.
"The animal might have come from STR to hunt small animals," he said, adding the forest personnel were monitoring the forest border.
Similarly, a hyena was spotted on Wednesday by Sujjilkuttai villagers near Bhavanisagar in Erode district. The villagers alerted forest officials, who rushed to the spot. They chased the hyena back into the forest by bursting crackers. They also formed a monitoring team to track the hyena's movements.
M Senthil Kumar, 39, spotted the leopard when he was returning home at Kombupallam near Sathyamangalam in a truck. "I was returning from Thalawadi after unloading goods," Senthil Kumar said. He said suddenly the leopard crossed the road after straying for a while on the roadside.
Senthil Kumar stopped the truck and took photos using his mobile phone. He also stopped other vehicles from going near the animal.
Senthil Kumar also alerted forest officials in STR. Before the officials could reach the spot, the leopard vanished into the forest.
Speaking to TOI, a forest official attached to STR said the forest department was taking all steps to prevent wild animals from entering human habitants.
"The animal might have come from STR to hunt small animals," he said, adding the forest personnel were monitoring the forest border.
Similarly, a hyena was spotted on Wednesday by Sujjilkuttai villagers near Bhavanisagar in Erode district. The villagers alerted forest officials, who rushed to the spot. They chased the hyena back into the forest by bursting crackers. They also formed a monitoring team to track the hyena's movements.
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