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Key Points

Leopard sightings and attacks have sparked fear in Coimbatore, with forest officials deploying camera traps and night patrols. A recent attack claimed the life of a six-year-old girl in Valparai, marking the third such incident in months. Wildlife experts urge long-term solutions like fencing and relocation of high-risk settlements. Authorities advise residents to avoid early morning and nighttime movement to reduce conflict risks.

Key Points: Leopard Attacks Trigger Panic in Coimbatore as Forest Officials Intensify Monitoring

  • Forest officials install 10 camera traps in Kuppepalayam after leopard sighting
  • Recent attacks include goat killings in Mavuthampathi settlement
  • 6-year-old Roshini Kumari mauled by leopard in Valparai
  • Experts call for protective fencing and relocation of vulnerable settlements
2 min read

Leopard sightings and attacks trigger panic in TN's Coimbatore; monitoring intensifies

Rising leopard sightings and attacks in Coimbatore prompt forest officials to deploy camera traps and night vigil to prevent human-animal conflict.

"We have placed camera traps to monitor its movement. If needed, we will place a cage and relocate the animal. – Forest Official"

Chennai, June 29

The forest officials in the Boluvampatti range have placed 10 pairs of camera traps around a grove on the north side of Kuppepalayam near Devarayapuram in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district, after CCTV footage captured a leopard moving near the area, creating panic among villagers.

The grove’s owner, Sakthi, alerted authorities after the footage was widely circulated on social media.

Officials said there have been no attacks on domestic animals in the area so far, but they suspect the animal, likely moving from Madukkarai forest, is prowling near human habitation in search of easy prey.

“We have placed camera traps to monitor its movement. If needed, we will place a cage and relocate the animal. Our staff will also keep a night vigil to prevent human-leopard conflict,” said a forest official.

In the Mavuthampathi settlement, a few days ago, a leopard reportedly killed several goats. In nearby Palacode forest areas, especially Valaithottam village, residents have also reported multiple leopard sightings in recent months.

The animal has attacked farmlands twice previously, killing a domestic dog and a chicken, and on Saturday, it hunted another chicken, heightening fear among villagers.

Meanwhile, in the Valparai area of Coimbatore district, tragic incidents continue. A few days ago, a six-year-old girl, Roshini Kumari, daughter of migrant workers from Jharkhand, was mauled by a leopard while helping her mother fetch water from a tap behind their house in Pachamalai estate.

Forest teams retrieved her body the next day after an intense search using drones, sniffer dogs, and camera traps. This is the third such incident in Valparai in recent months.

In October 2024, four-year-old Apsara Khatun, also from a migrant family, was killed by a leopard near Uzhemala estate. In November 2023, seven-year-old Pradheep was injured in a leopard attack in Sirukundra within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Wildlife experts have called for long-term measures, including protective fencing, improved lighting in labour lines, and relocation of vulnerable settlements.

Forest authorities have urged residents to avoid venturing out during early morning and night hours and assured continued efforts to prevent further attacks.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
So heartbreaking about the little girl. Migrant workers' children are most vulnerable as they live in remote areas. Government should provide proper housing with basic amenities near plantations.
A
Arjun K
Not just leopards, we're seeing more wild animals in cities because their habitats are shrinking. Development is important but we need sustainable planning that protects both humans and wildlife.
S
Sarah B
The forest department seems reactive rather than proactive. After 3 tragic incidents, they're still just "monitoring"? Where are the concrete prevention measures they promised last year?
K
Karthik V
In my village near Valparai, we've started keeping dogs and installing bright lights. But poor families can't afford these protections. Government should subsidize safety measures for them.
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Nisha Z
Why is no one talking about the illegal encroachments into forest areas? These human-animal conflicts will only increase if we keep destroying their homes. Nature always strikes back. 🌿
D
David E
The camera traps and drone monitoring are good first steps. But long-term, India needs better wildlife corridors to allow safe animal movement without human contact. Other countries have done this successfully.

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