Residents of Medappara hamlet, near Thannithode, and Arattukudukka, near Chittar, living on the fringes of forests, are reluctant to come out of their houses at night fearing a killer leopard.
A cow belonging to Rajan of Valiyakalayil had been killed on Tuesday night by a wild animal, suspected to be a leopard.
On Thursday night, the big cat entered the Medappara rubber plantation and attacked a cow belonging to Surendran that was in a cowshed. The cow’s face was badly bruised. The leopard fled as soon as Surendran opened the door to the shed on hearing a loud noise.
In nearby Arattukudukka, the leopard ate a goat belonged to Celin of Poovathumtharayil house the same night. Celin said the leopard fled into the forest when it saw her near the shed.
Forest Department personnel led by Divisional Forest Officer K. Janardhanan verified a pugmark as that of a leopard. Forest personnel set up a cage on the Medappara estate in an attempt to trap the animal.
As many as 20 families are staying on the Medappara estate.
