The Hindu : National : Black panther's day out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

National

National

Black panther's day out

D. Radhakrishnan

Trapped and released near Udhagamandalam, for the first time

CAGED FEROCITY: The black panther trapped, on Wednesday. — Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

Udhagamandalam: In the first incident of its kind in the Nilgiris, a ferocious black panther, belonging to an endangered species, was trapped in the village of Mukkatty near here and then released into the wild on Wednesday.

With the sighting of panthers in the region being reported frequently, there was recently concern among people, especially tea garden employees, although no human was attacked. Consequently, District Forest Officer K. Kandasamy arranged for traps to be set up, in the form of camouflaged cages. One panther was recently trapped near Hubbathalai but it managed to escape. Another was trapped a few days later and translocated.

After a lull, the fear of panthers on the prowl near Ketti led to a cage being kept at Mukkatty 10 days ago. A dog was used as bait. Early on Wednesday, the black panther was trapped.

The area was promptly cordoned off, but a large number of people made a beeline for the spot.

With Conservator of Forests R.C. Purwar and other senior forest officials supervising the operation, Veterinary Officer N.S. Manoharan arrived from Coimbatore and tranquillised the animal, a male about four years old. Forest officials said it was the first time a black panther had been trapped in the Nilgiris. The animal had suffered some bruises on its face while trying to break loose. A team of forest officials took it to the Upper Bhavani-Bangithappal area and released it.

Often described as the perfect predator, the melanistic leopard is generally found in the dense, wet forested areas of India and South East Asia. The coloration gives it a hunting advantage. It is among the least seen and least understood among the Big Cats.

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