Forest officials in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district have stepped up surveillance after a leopard was caught on CCTV prowling near a grove in Kuppepalayam, Devarayapuram. The footage, which quickly spread on social media, triggered panic among villagers. Acting on a tip-off from landowner Sakthi, authorities deployed 10 pairs of camera traps to monitor the big cat’s movement.
Officials believe the leopard may have strayed from the Madukkarai forest in search of easy prey. Though no domestic animals have been harmed in Kuppepalayam yet, nearby settlements like Mavuthampathi and Valaithottam have reported recent livestock kills. Forest teams are now conducting night patrols and may set up a cage trap if sightings continue.
Meanwhile, a grim pattern of leopard attacks continues in the Valparai region. Just days ago, six-year-old Roshini Kumari, the daughter of Jharkhand-based migrant labourers, was fatally mauled while fetching water near Pachamalai estate. Her body was recovered after a day-long search involving drones, sniffer dogs, and camera traps.
This is the third such tragedy in Valparai in recent months. In October 2024, four-year-old Apsara Khatun was killed near Uzhemala estate, and in November 2023, seven-year-old Pradheep was injured in Sirukundra.
Wildlife experts are urging urgent mitigation steps, including better lighting, fencing, and shifting vulnerable families to safer locations. Authorities have warned residents to stay indoors during dawn and dusk while efforts to track and contain leopard activity continue.