Residents of Maliabad village in Raichur can finally breathe easy after a leopard, which had been preying on their livestock for months, was captured on Tuesday morning.

The big cat was caught around 7:30 AM in a trap set by the Forest Department on the outskirts of Raichur town. The leopard had been responsible for multiple cattle killings, including attacks on December 11 and February 14. Despite previous attempts, officials had struggled to capture the elusive predator.

Frustrated villagers, who had repeatedly lost livestock, had criticized the Forest Department’s slow response and even threatened to escalate the issue to the Forest Minister. Some warned they would take action themselves if the problem persisted.

In response, authorities intensified their efforts in mid-February. Traps were strategically placed at three locations based on fresh leopard tracks, and officials closely monitored the area. Villagers were advised to stay indoors during twilight hours and to keep their cattle away from forested zones after dark. CCTV cameras were also installed to track the leopard’s movements.

The persistence of the Forest Department finally yielded results when the animal was found trapped on Tuesday morning, bringing much-needed relief to the troubled community.