THIRUVANNATHAPURAM: Can there be a coup against the King of Forest? However, there is such an allegation voiced at Kerala’s one and only Lion Safari park near the Neyyar dam.

The voice of protest was heard loud after the Forest department released the leopard caught from Wayanad (Pulpalli, Mathamangalam) in the Safari park recently. The leopard is currently housed in a lion’s cage in the park.

Currently, there are only two lions in the Safari park. In one of the cages in the park, the Forest staff have put a tiger that was brought from Wayanad six months ago. The leopard has been put in the cage near the tiger’s cage.

Meanwhile, the allegation is that the forest department has been bringing leopards and tigers that come out of the forests to this park in order to destroy the Lion Safari park and its concept.

The park is also facing the threat of closure as it has failed to conform fully to the criteria of Central Zoo Authority.