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MANNARKKAD: A four-year-old female leopard was trapped by the forest department after it ventured into a populated area in Pothuvapadam in Mylampadam. The leopard was captured at 4.30 am on Monday. Rubber tapping workers informed the locals and forest rangers, on hearing the sound.

With the help of the locals, the officials took the leopard to the Mannarkkad forest department office. Dr David Abraham, a forest veterinary surgeon from Thrissur, examined the leopard and confirmed that there were no health problems. The animal was taken to the Parambikulam forest area by night. On Tuesday it will be taken to the forest and released.

For months, leopard trouble was reported in Kottopadam, Pothuvapadam, Mekkalappara, and Kandamangalam areas under Kumaraputhur panchayat. The tiger had killed many sheep, dogs, and cows. The locals also sighted the leopard. The forest department had set a trap on the 30th of last month after strong protests from the locals. Despite the leopard getting trapped, the fears of the locals have not abated. Locals say there are more leopards in the area and the nest needs to be placed again.