POLLACHI: The leopard menace continues in Valparai after a leopard entered the Valparai town panchayat market, killing a calf in the early hours of Friday. The badly mauled carcass of the calf, after its blood had been sucked, was found lying in front of a house. This is the third reported incident within a month. Four days ago, in the same area, a stray dog was mauled and killed by the leopard.According to V.Subiah, Forest department deputy director-Pollachi, the bite marks and the feeding pattern on the carcass indicate that it was a victim of a leopard attack.
The increasing number of leopards straying into residential areas is due to rise in the cattle population in the hills, ignoring the instructions of the Forest staff. “The Forest department has strictly ordered not to rear cattle in the hills, but no one follows the order. Due to increase in human population in the hills, animals are also struggling to keep territory being encroached by humans,” he added.
