Leopard lifts cow, calf; locals urge forest dept to intervene

Thrissur: Residents in Palappilli, a village in Thrissur, have demanded urgent intervention of forest officials after a pet dog and a calf were lifted by a leopard early on Wednesday.The dog and the calf reportedly belonged to Kalladikunnathuveettil Ali. Varantharappilli panchayat member Sathi Ravi said a leopard attacked domestic animals four months ago but forest officials did not take any action. Leopard attacks are happening in residential areas close to the rubber estate owned by private groups. Ravi alleged that the estate owners are not regularly clearing the undergrowth in the plantation area and its peripheries. It enables wild animals to hide and people often see them when they reach dangerously close to them."Residents and people's representatives in the area will go to the estate manager's office on Thursday demanding undergrowth in the area be clared," Ravi said. She alleged that forest officials were not responding to their repeated demands to install camera traps to track the leopard."People are living in constant fear. Ali and his family are staying in thatched houses attached to rubber estates. Other families are also staying there. They are financially poor and that is why they are staying in such houses. Forest officials and estate owners must take necessary steps to eliminate human-animal conflicts in the area, Ravi said. When contacted, Varantharappilly forest range officer Ratheesh P D said patrolling would be intensified in the area following the leopard attack. Cameras will also be installed if required," he said.