It was noticed on Wednesday evening at Officer’s Club
Forest Department drawing up plans to trap the animal
Coimbatore: The Forest Department is drawing up plans to end the menace caused by a jungle cat that is on the prowl in ATT Colony area along the central prison compound.
The jungle cat was noticed on Wednesday evening at the Officer’s Club when it pounced on two kittens killing one and leaving the other badly injured on its face. Persons who saw the jungle cat initially described it as a “strange animal”.
The forest officials visited the club and listened to the people who saw the “strange animal” and on showing them the photographs the Forest officials confirmed that it was a jungle cat.
With a nursery school located nearby, the authorities decided to exercise extra precaution in handling the animal.
On instructions from the District Forest Officer, I. Anwardeen, the Forest Veterinarian, N.S. Manoharan, visited the club on Thursday evening. People at the Officer’s Club canteen and tennis court were asked to light up the premises and to create noise by beating a tin-sheet since any light and human activity would scare away the cat.
Jungle cat belonging to the Felis Chaus family of cats is a nocturnal animal and shy in nature. It survives by hunting small birds, cats and rabbit, Dr. Manoharan said. The jungle cat could have found the sprawling jail compound with enough trees as an ideal habitat, officials pointed out.
With its movements largely at night, the officials have planned to look out for the cat on Thursday night and then plan on how to trap it. If the animal remained docile without causing trouble, then it could be pushed back into areas with more trees.
If the animal behaved violently attacking more pets and people in the area, then the department would explore the option of placing a cage to trap it and then for removing it to another location after tranquilising it.
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