Coonoor: Leopard strays into cantonment area

UDHAGAMANDALAM: A leopard on the prowl has instilled fear among the residents of Wellington cantonment area near Coonoor. The animal has been wandering around the area for the past two days.
The movement of the leopard was captured in one of the CCTV cameras installed in the defence area in Wellington.
However, residents claimed that two leopards were moving around the Wellington area on Wednesday morning.
They said, “With the movement of leopards, it is very scary to send our wards to schools. We must restrict ourselves in homes by not venturing out in late evenings. The forest department should take action to capture the animals.”
District forest officer Guru Swami Baddal said, “It has come to our notice that a leopard has strayed into the cantonment area. Forest guards are monitoring the movement of the animal”.
He added, “We have written to our higher authorities seeking permission to capture the leopard and relocate it. We will soon capture the animal as it seems an adult.”
He said the increase in stray dogs and domestic dogs in Wellington area attracts the carnivores. Wellington cantonment is surrounded by reserve forest area.