Wayanad: A leopard that had instilled fear among residents of Kalloor, a forest fringe area in Kerala's Wayanad district, was successfully trapped in a cage set by wildlife officials early on Tuesday. The capture brought palpable relief to villagers who had been living under constant threat from the big cat.

For the past several days, reports of the leopard's presence had been surfacing from Cheeral and Nambiarkunnu areas, situated along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Residents had complained that the feline was responsible for a string of attacks on domestic animals, causing significant losses and heightened anxiety. A video purportedly showing the leopard calmly walking alongside a road in the area had also circulated recently, further confirming its presence and adding to the local concern.

Upon receiving confirmation of the animal's capture, forest officials promptly arrived at the scene. The trapped leopard was subsequently transferred to the animal care centre at Kuppadi in Bathery, where it will be monitored and cared for.
With inputs from PTI