GUDALUR: The ferocious leopard that mauled a three-year-old toddler to death in Pandalur was finally caught by forest officials on Sunday. The department doctor had to dart two tranquillizers on the big cat as part of shifting it to the cage. According to officials, the captured leopard will be soon transferred to Mudumalai National Park. It was only after strong protest from natives in Pandalur that the forest department took the urge to capture the wild beast.

Even after the leopard was captured, the incensed locals blocked the forest officials from taking away the wild beast and wanted it killed. Three-year-old Nancy was killed by the leopard at 5 pm on Saturday and this evoked a strong response from locals who were until then pleading for help from forest officials. After attacking Nancy, the tiger also attacked a woman named Manjula. She is now undergoing treatment at Pandalur Government Hospital.

Nancy is the daughter of Sivashankar and Milan Devi, natives of Jharkhand. The leopard snatched away the toddler from Sivashankar who was bringing her back from playschool.