Leopard trapped in tunnel snare escapes despite tranquillizer dart in Kerala’s Kasaragod

The cage set up by the Forest department after residents reported sighting of a leopard inside a tunnel in a private land in Bedadka grama panchayat in Kasaragod on Wednesday evening.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Despite the Forest department using a tranquallizer dart, a leopard trapped in a snare inside a tunnel at Madanthakode in Bedadka panchayat, Kasaragod, Kerala, has managed to escape.

The incident occurred on a private land where the leopard was first spotted by a woman on Wednesday (February 5, 2025) evening.

A team from the Forest department, including a rapid response team (RRT) from Wayanad and veterinarian Illyas Rawther from Kannur, arrived at the scene. The tunnel was covered with a net, and a cage was placed to prevent the leopard from escaping. However, after being shot with a tranquallizer dart around 3.30 a.m, the leopard broke free from the snare and fled under the cover of night.

K. Ashraf, Divisional Forest Officer, Kasaragod, believed the dart may not have hit the right spot, allowing the animal to escape. Heavy fog hampered further search operations.

Authorities plan to form a committee as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines and set up a cage to trap the leopard once permission is granted.

Meanwhile, District Collector K. Inbasekar has announced a meeting with panchayat members affected by wildlife conflicts to address the issue.