Coonoor: Life has turned nightmarish for residents of the western parts of Coonoor as a panther strayed into the area. While the wild panther roaming in the Orange Grove area is already an issue and keeping the poor foresters on their toes, now, residents of the Carolina area in Chandra Colony limits in Coonoor panicked when they spotted another panther moving there on Wednesday evening at sunset.
Foresters who rushed to Chandra Colony on Wednesday night tried to trace the panther that strayed into human habitat, but it seems to have vanished into the nearby bushes. They gave up their search after midnight owning to poor visibility.
Residents said that the panther was spotted visiting a rock along the jungle fringes a few weeks ago and now it has entered human settlements in the town limits. Foresters should immediately place a cage to capture the panther to relocate it, they said.
Forest department sources, nonetheless, said that they have identified some pug marks of the panther in the area and have formed a vigilant team to track its movement and help chalk out a strategy to resolve this troubling issue.
