Wadakkanchery (Palakkad): A leopard that was trapped in a snare set on the fence of a private estate bordering the forest here has met with a tragic end as the rescue bid failed. The leopard, aged around four years, was given three tranquillizer shots before being taken for treatment when it died. The incident happened at Nannangady, Odanthode, near the Mangalam Dam.
A post-mortem was conducted on the carcass, and the animal was later cremated in Dhoni forest area.
The trapped feline was first noticed by rubber-tapper Marimuthu, a native of Tamil Nadu, around 5 am on Monday. The snare had been set for wild boar. The abdominal area of the leopard was caught in a cable from which it could not extricate itself. The leopard tried to attack people who tried to approach it.
A team from the Forest Department under veterinarian U C Midhun reached the spot gave a tranquillizer shot to the animal at 12.10 pm. But there was no effect on the leopard, which became aggressive again. Another shot was given to the leopard at 12.30 pm. Still the leopard remained on its feet. Finally, the beast was caged after a third shot at 1.15 pm. However, the leopard died while it was being rushed to Veterinary College, Mannuthy, for treatment.
Those who visited the spot included Olavakkode chief forest conservator Sheik Haider Hussain, Nenmara DFO C Sasikumar, vets at Thrissur zoo Binoy, C Babu and V Sunil, and police and fire and rescue personnel.
K D Prasenan MLA and Kizhakkanchery panchayat president Kavitha Madhavan were also present.
