Chennai, Aug 5 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has escalated its patrolling and monitoring efforts in the Boluvampatti forest area adjacent to Narasipuram village in Coimbatore district following a leopard attack that resulted in the death of one cow and left another injured.

The unfortunate event transpired on Sunday evening when A. Ponnusamy, 41, a local resident, allowed his cattle to graze close to the forest's edge. Alarmed by the distressing sounds of the cows, his family hurried to the scene, only to find the animals lying in a pool of blood. One cow was deceased, while another sustained significant injuries.

Upon arrival, forest officials discovered leopard pugmarks near the location, confirming the predator's involvement in the incident. The next day, villagers protested outside the Narasipuram forest office, accusing the department of negligence despite prior warnings about wild animal presence in the area.

Residents expressed their concerns, noting they had previously informed officials about frequent sightings of elephants and leopards, yet no preventive measures were implemented. They demanded swift action to ensure the safety of both people and livestock.

Boluvampatti forest ranger K. Jayachandran stated that the department has deployed four vehicles for ongoing patrolling and has set up camera traps to monitor wildlife activity, including leopards.

He assured the community that measures are being taken to avert further human-wildlife conflicts and mentioned that compensation will be provided to the affected cattle owner. A veterinary officer conducted a post-mortem examination on the deceased cow on Monday evening.

This incident has reignited concerns regarding the recurring leopard attacks in the district, particularly in Valparai, where there have been several tragic incidents involving children in recent years.

On June 20, four-year-old Roshini Kumari, daughter of migrant plantation workers from Jharkhand, was attacked and dragged away by a leopard near her home in the Pachamalai tea estate. Her body was discovered 17 hours later, approximately 700 meters from her house. A male leopard believed to be responsible was captured six days later and subsequently released into the Ulandhi range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. This marks the third fatal leopard attack involving children of migrant tea estate workers in Valparai within two years.

In October 2024, four-year-old Apsara Khatoon was killed near the Uzhemala estate, while in November 2023, a seven-year-old boy named Pradeep was injured near Sirukundra.

Forest officials and wildlife experts continue to stress the necessity for long-term strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, particularly in regions bordering forests.

With alarming incidents occurring in both Narasipuram and Valparai, authorities have urged residents to refrain from allowing livestock near forest peripheries and to promptly report any wild animal sightings.