Even after the capture and relocation of a leopard on June 17 at Cinchona, after it is said to have attacked estate workers and killed a woman, the Forest Department continues its vigil at the tea estates of Valparai that are still in the grip of the fear of leopard attacks.
Camera traps and cages that were used to track and trap it continue to remain at estates and residential areas, following information on the movement of more leopards. Sources said leopard movement were reported in the tea estates coming under Valparai and Manombolly forest ranges.
50 camera traps
“Nearly 50 camera traps are in place to monitor the movement of leopards in the estates that had already witnessed attacks. Four cages kept for the capture of the leopard are yet to be removed from those places,” said a senior official from Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
A male leopard aged around three was found dead at Puthukad near Sheikalmudi on Thursday morning, which confirmed the presence of more leopards. The Department, which initially said the leopard could have been killed by another in a turf fight, now claimed that it was killed in an attack by wild dogs.
Workers advised
Meanwhile, estate workers who reside in quarters located inside tea estates have been advised not to venture out late in the evening, at night and early morning.
Several estate workers have pet animals and livestock that draw the big cat into human habitations.