Leopard trapped in cage set for man-eating tiger

The leopard trapped in a cage set for a man-eating tiger at Karuvarakundu on Friday

A leopard was caught in a trap set for a tiger that had attacked and killed a man at Adakkakundu near Kalikavu in the district on Friday. The Forest department had set up cages in several locations around Adakkakundu to capture the tiger that killed Gafoor Ali, a 44-year-old rubber tapper, on May 15.

The adult leopard was caught in a cage set up at Kerala Estate’s C-1 division in Karuvarakundu. The leopard had partially consumed a goat used as bait for the tiger.

However, local residents prevented forest officials from releasing the leopard in Nedumkayam forest. They staged a protest by blocking the officials. The protest ended after senior forest officials assured them that the leopard would be relocated to Thrissur Zoo.

The Kalikavu and Karuvarakundu areas have been gripped by fear since May 15. A large team of forest staff, led by Chief Veterinary Surgeon Arun Zachariah, has been tracking the tiger with drone support. Over 50 surveillance cameras were installed to track the elusive animal.

Despite these efforts, local residents reported spotting the tiger in several places near Karuvarakundu in recent days.

Published - May 30, 2025 08:43 pm IST