The Forest Department has placed a trap at Kuppanur village near Sirumugai here after domestic animals and livestock were attacked by a leopard. The cage was placed in a place close to human habitation.
Movement
According to the Department officials, the cage is placed in an area where the movement of leopard has been identified through pug marks.
Kuppanur village is adjacent to Mothepalayam where leopard attacks were reported on domestic animals and livestock in July.
“The trap was kept two days ago. The cage will be shifted to another location if the animal is not trapped from the current location,” said Sirumugai Forest Range Officer E.N. Manoharan.
Mr. Manoharan said the cage was placed in the village with the consent of senior officials.
A dog has been kept in a partitioned portion of the trap as lure. The dog will be safe in the trap even if the carnivore animal is trapped.
While dogs belonging to some of the farmers were killed in Kuppanur recently, livestock damage was reported in similar attacks at Mothepalayam last month.
Kuppanur and Mothepalayam villages are situated close to Thennamalai hills, a Forest Department land spread over 230 hectares.