Dibrugarh: A 3-year-old female leopard was captured by the forest department at Puranimati tea estate in Jorhat on Saturday morning, easing fear among residents who had been on the edge for several days.The leopard had been prowling around the tea estate area, preying on livestock belonging to local farmers and tea garden workers. Villagers reported losing goats, poultry and other domestic animals over recent weeks, heightening anxiety about going out, especially after dark.After repeated complaints, the forest department installed an iron cage in the area on June 27, using live bait to lure the animal. The leopard was found trapped inside the cage on Saturday morning, nearly a week later.“We had been receiving distress calls from the tea estate workers for days. The moment we got word that the animal was trapped, our team rushed to the spot to secure it safely,” a forest department official said.“It was agitated and kept ramming its head against the cage. By the time we reached the spot, it had a few visible wounds on its forehead, though nothing appeared life-threatening,” the official added.The official further said the leopard will undergo a medical examination to treat its injuries and assess its health. “Once it is cleared by the veterinary team, we will identify a suitable and safe forest habitat away from human settlements to release it,” he added.
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