Leopard Trio Captured and Safely Released in Hasanur Forest, Tamil Nadu

On a quiet Thursday morning in the Hasanur forest division of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, forest officials finally got a break in a tense man‑leopard standoff that had gripped the local community.

Earlier in the month, V. Periyasamy, a resident of Bungalow Thotti, was found dead beside a stream on October 4. A post‑mortem confirmed the grim reality – he had fallen victim to a leopard attack. The news sent ripples through nearby villages, prompting the Forest Department to step up surveillance along the forest fringe.

Following directives from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Chief Wildlife Warden, two baited cages were discreetly installed – one between a gas agency and Bunk Thottam on October 18, and another at P.K.P.N. Thottam on October 21. The aim was simple but delicate: trap the culprit without harming it.

Just after dawn on October 22, the first cage snapped shut, trapping two young leopard cubs, each roughly a year old. Their eyes darted nervously, but the veterinary team quickly assured everyone they were in good health.

Moments later, at around 6:45 a.m., the second cage captured a mature male leopard, estimated to be five to six years old – the very animal suspected in the fatal attack. Even though the situation was charged with emotion, the forest staff handled the capture with calm professionalism.

All three cats underwent a thorough health check by a department veterinarian. “They are healthy,” the report read, a relief for both the officials and the local populace who feared the worst.

True to their conservation mandate, the department released the trio back into the dense interior of the forest later that day, hoping they would resume their natural role away from human settlements.

The incident underscores the fragile balance between wildlife and humans in India’s forested landscapes, and the need for timely, humane interventions when that balance is threatened.