Leopard Spotting Worries Valaithottam Village

Wild cat steals chicken from farmland, third spotting in two months; locals say forest dept failing to take action

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

FOR the third time in the past two months, a wild leopard wandered into a private farmland near Valaithottam village near Palacode and hunted chicken raised by a local farmer. Locals are increasingly distressed and urged the forest department to take steps to relocate the leopard.

Over the past few months, there have been several reports of leopard sightings in forest areas near Palacode, particularly in Valaithottam village, near the forest's fringe. There have been two instances when the leopard attacked farmlands, taking away a domestic dog and a chicken. On Saturday, the leopard hunted another chicken from the farmland.

Meanwhile, after the recent incident in Valparai where a child was killed by a leopard, panic has gripped the village again.