Dibrugarh villagers capture black panther

Dibrugarh: A black panther, which had been terrorising the locals at Nahoroni for over ten days, was finally captured on Saturday by the residents of Nohajar Sonowal village in Dibrugarh.Locally known as "Ghoong", the panther was responsible for attacking on domestic animals, causing significant losses to the farmers.Taking matters into their own hands, the villagers set up an iron cage on Friday evening, using a hen as bait. Their efforts paid off, when the panther was trapped in the early hours of Saturday."This panther had killed several several goats and chickens. Everyone was living in fear, especially during the evening. We placed the cage around 7pm on Friday, and by dawn, we had successfully trapped the animal. It was a relief for the entire village," said Troilukya Sonowal, a local farmer. The news spread quickly, drawing curious onlookers from neighbouring areas, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the animal."The animal appears to be in good health, but we will conduct a thorough medical examination. Once cleared, it will be released in a remote forest area, far from human settlements to prevent future conflicts," a forest official said.