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Forest dept traps leopard in Ambaulim

A leopard, who had been giving locals sleepless nights, was trapped in a cage laid by forest department officials at Khursa vaddo, Ambaulim, around 3km from Quepem town, early Wednesday morning.

The trapping of the wild animal drew huge crowds including school children and passersby who flocked to the site to catch a glimpse of the leopard.

The trap was laid after complaints from locals about the quiet disappearance of their pigs, dogs and hens which they had been enduring for a long time.

After seeing the leopard trapped, the locals immediately informed forest officials about the capture.

Range forest officer Miguel Fernandes, along with his team and a rescue team from wildlife, Margao, led by Julio Quadros arrived at the spot and rescued the leopard. The big cat was shifted to the Bondla wildlife sanctuary.

The forest department officials had a tough time in controlling the huge crowd who had gathered for an opportunity to see the wild cat, whose head was injured. The leopard roared furiously at the sight of the crowd that kept gathering.

Speaking to TOI, Patrick Fernandes, a Khursa vaddo resident, said that locals knew that it was a leopard who had lifted all the missing animals during the last four months. The cage was set up behind his house about 20 days back after the complaint was lodged.

"Everyday I used to keep a hen inside the cage so that if the leopard comes, it will get trapped inside. But after 20 days of planning, leopard got trapped," said Fernandes.

Four leopards were found in Quepem town in as many years. Two leopards were in close proximity of Quepem town. Range forest officer Miguel said that one leopard was caught at Cavrem, Pirla, four months ago. The presence of the leopard in a residential area had left people in fear that it would attack them.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/...525000.cms
 

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