The leopard was spotted near Thayatheru in Kannur on Sunday.Kannur: After a tense 7 hours, a wild leopard that strayed into Kannur town was tranquilized by forest officials Sunday night.
The leopard that spread panic in the area and mauled at least 4 persons was shot by a team led by Dr Arun Zachariah.
The news came as a relief to thousands of people who stayed awake at Thayatheru to see the operation by officials.
The leopard has been taken in a cage and will be shifted from the area.
People run away for cover as the leopard jumps into them. Captured: leopard which kept Kannur on tenterhooks lands in TVPM | Pix
The leopard was first spotted in a bush near Thayatheru Moideen mosque around 3 pm. The district collector had issued section 144 in Kazanakotta area following the incident.
The injured have been hospitalized. Among the injured, one was a Bengali while the other two were Kerala natives.
One of the victims was attacked in front of his house while two others came under attack when they went in search of the animal.
The forest department sounded an alert in the area and warned people against venturing outside their houses. Officials of the police, forest and fire force camped in the area and made sure that the leopard did not venture out again by laying a net around the area.
The leopard disappeared into a bush following shouts and screams by the locals who assembled in the area. The police and the forest officials moved into the bush once they got the permission to shoot at the animal.
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
A leopard, which kept the people of Kannur on the tenterhooks, was moved to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
Forest officials take the leopard to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
A far cry from the wilderness: the leopard was restive in the confines of the cage at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's notorious leopard in TVPM
It was one unending flow of visitors at the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram to get a glimpse of the big cat. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
The fury had not subsided even hours after the leopard was caged and brought to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
Kerala forest minister K Raju turns up at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram to see the big cat. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
Kerala forest minister K Raju gets up close with the big cat at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
The docile leopard sprang to life as Kerala forest minister K Raju walks away from its cage at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
The leopard could be released into the forest later. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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Spotted: Kannur's big cat burns bright in TVPM
Officials said it was a good sign that the leopard was nibbling on the food provided by them as wild cats seldom feed in captivity. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil
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