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Key Points

The TN Forest Department successfully trapped the leopard responsible for killing four-year-old Roshini near a Valparai tea estate. This marks the third major leopard attack in the region since 2023, highlighting escalating human-wildlife conflicts. Migrant worker families face heightened risks, with officials now reinforcing safety measures. Compensation has been provided to the victim's family as authorities work on long-term mitigation strategies.

Key Points: Valparai Leopard That Killed 4-Year-Old Girl Captured by TN Forest Dept

  • Leopard captured near Pachamalai tea estate where attack occurred
  • Rs 9.5 lakh compensation given to victim's migrant family
  • Third major leopard incident in Valparai since 2023
  • Officials reinforce safety protocols amid rising conflicts
2 min read

Leopard that mauled four-year-old girl in Valparai trapped by TN Forest Dept

TN Forest Dept traps leopard that mauled 4-year-old Roshini in Valparai, as human-wildlife conflicts rise in Coimbatore tea estates.

"The leopard reportedly dragged the girl into nearby tea bushes and deeper into an adjacent forest patch. — IANS"

Chennai, June 26

A leopard who was suspected to have killed a four-year-old girl near Valparai in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district has been successfully trapped by the Forest Department.

Officials confirmed that the animal was captured in the early hours of Thursday in a cage placed near Pachamalai, close to a tea estate where the child was attacked.

The cage had been strategically installed about 700 metres from the line houses of estate workers — near the very spot where the leopard mauled the child, Roshini Kumari, around 6:30 P.M. on Friday, June 20.

The leopard reportedly dragged the girl into nearby tea bushes and deeper into an adjacent forest patch. Her remains were recovered around 11:30 A.M. the following day.

Roshini, the daughter of migrant workers from Jharkhand, had recently moved with her family to the tea estate at Pachamalai after leaving another estate in Valparai just 10 days earlier.

In response to the attack, the Forest Department’s Pollachi Range deployed 20 camera traps to monitor leopard activity near the workers’ residential lines and the surrounding forest patches.

Authorities from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) coordinated the effort.

As part of the government’s support measures, Pollachi MP K. Eswarasamy on Sunday handed over a solatium of Rs 9.5 lakh to Roshini’s parents.

An immediate relief of Rs 50,000 was disbursed to the family on Saturday itself.

This latest incident has once again highlighted the persistent issue of human-wildlife conflict in the Valparai plateau, an area known for frequent leopard sightings, especially during dawn and dusk.

Forest authorities have urged estate workers and local residents to remain vigilant and avoid venturing out during early morning or night-time hours.

Additional safety protocols and community awareness measures are being reinforced.

This is the third major leopard-related incident in Valparai in recent months.

In October 2024, another four-year-old girl, Apsara Khatun — also from a migrant family from Jharkhand — was killed in a leopard attack near Uzhemala estate.

Earlier, on November 6, 2023, a seven-year-old boy named Pradeep was injured in a leopard encounter near Sirukundra within ATR limits.

Wildlife experts have called for long-term mitigation strategies, including the installation of protective fencing, better lighting in workers’ quarters, and potential relocation of vulnerable settlements away from forest edges.

Forest officials have assured local communities that sustained efforts will continue to prevent further tragedies and ensure human safety in the region.

—IANS

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Heartbreaking news 😢 The poor child and her family... These migrant workers face so many challenges already. The forest department must implement better safety measures immediately. Why are tea estates still allowing families to live in such vulnerable areas?
R
Rahul S.
This is the third incident in less than a year! Authorities need to stop reacting and start preventing. More fencing, better lighting, and relocation of settlements should have been done after the first tragedy. Our wildlife conservation must include human safety too.
A
Arjun M.
While the compensation is good, no amount of money can bring back a child. The tea estate management should be held accountable for worker safety. They earn crores but can't provide secure housing? Shameful!
S
Shalini V.
The forest department acted swiftly this time, but prevention is better than cure. Maybe they should consider relocating some leopards to other reserves if the human-animal conflict is becoming so frequent in Valparai. Tough situation all around.
V
Vikram P.
As someone from Tamil Nadu, I know how common leopard sightings are in these areas. But why are migrant workers not being properly educated about the dangers? Local language safety workshops should be mandatory for all new workers coming from other states.
N
Neha R.
The real issue is habitat destruction. Tea estates keep expanding into forest areas, forcing wildlife and humans into conflict. We need sustainable development policies that protect both people and animals. My heart goes out to the little one's family 🙏

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