Pothukallu: Tension ran high in the Anakallu-Uppada region on Thursday after local residents staged a protest against a forest department team led by Vazhikadavu Forest Range Officer Sherif Panolan, who had arrived to inspect the carcass of a leopard cub found in the area.

The protest was triggered by the forest department’s failure to install either a cage trap or a camera trap to capture the adult leopard believed to have accompanied the cub, or at least to monitor its presence. Reports of leopard sightings from nearby areas like Punjakkolli and Kodalipoyil in recent days have also heightened fear among residents.

Locals said several pets and livestock had been killed in recent weeks and people, especially rubber tappers, are now reluctant to venture out due to fear of attack.

Nilambur MLA Aryadan Shoukath visited the area and spoke to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), who assured that a surveillance camera would be installed to monitor leopard activity.

Ward member Omana Nagalodi, Congress mandalam president Raju Thuruthel, NS Ajesh and Santosh Mathew were also present.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a herd of wild elephants destroyed nearly 400 one-year-old rubber saplings at Parayanmattil near Vattamala in Karuvarakkundu. The one-year oldsaplings belonged to Matathoor Hamsa.