COIMBATORE: A leopard spotted on the Kakkurayan revenue hillock at Onnipalayam near Karamadai continues to evade capture, despite efforts by forest officials to trap it using a cage.
Officials said the cage, weighing close to 150 kg, has been placed at the foothill as transporting it up the hillock is extremely challenging due to the steep and uneven terrain. Retrieving the cage after trapping the animal would also pose significant difficulty.
"Weighing more than 150 kg, it is very difficult for staff to carry the cage uphill. There is no flat terrain on the hillock. Even if we place it there, bringing it back down with the animal inside would be a major challenge," said an official from the Karamadai forest range.
The leopard is suspected to be surviving on easy prey, particularly feeding on stray dogs in the area. Initially, forest staff attempted to lure the animal by tying a stray dog near the cage, but the leopard did not approach.
Officials also noted that human interference may be affecting trapping efforts. Local residents and farmers, attempting to spot the animal, have been flashing torchlights towards the hillock, possibly making the leopard wary and avoiding the cage.
"We are now planning to shift the cage to another side of the hillock and place meat as bait to attract the animal," the official added.
So far, no incidents of human-leopard conflict have been reported, and there have been no cattle kills in the surrounding areas.
Forest staff continue to monitor the situation, particularly during nighttime, when the leopard is most likely to emerge in search of food.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a leopard was spotted descending from a tree inside a tea estate at Nunthala in the Nilgiris district. The animal fled upon noticing workers, and the incident was captured on video and shared on social media.